Lakers Injury Report: LA All-Star Downgraded For Play-In Game Vs Pelicans

All-Star Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis, who had previously claimed that he would "no doubt" be suiting up for tomorrow's 7-8 Western Conference play-in tournament contest against the New Orleans Pelicans, despite appearing to tweak his hip and back against Larry Nance Jr. late in LA's blowout 124-108 victory against New Orleans in both team's regular season finale Sunday.

Now, apparently, his health is looking a bit more tenuous.

Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times reports that Davis has seen his status downgraded to questionable with back spasms. His fellow Lakers All-Star, 39-year-old forward LeBron James, is considered probable to play due to a left ankle peroneal tendinopathy.

Three long-hurt Lakers will remain unavailable for Los Angeles as the team's 2024 postseason begins. Rookie guard Jalen Hood-Schifino is still on the shelf as he recuperates from his lumbar disc surgery, but he was never part of the club's rotation when everyone was fully healthy. The absence that will hurt most tomorrow, barring Davis sitting, will be defense-first reserve forward Jarred Vanderbilt, who hasn't played in months due to a right midfoot sprain. Backup big man Christian Wood, who underwent a surgery of his own on his left knee late in the regular season, is still out.

Some pundits have posited that Los Angeles should throw Tuesday's play-in matchup, which would allow the Lakers to fall to the No. 8 seed (assuming they beat the winner of the Sacramento Kings-Golden State Warriors 9-10 play-in game), and avoid the reigning champion Denver Nuggets until the Western Conference Finals. Of course, they'd have to get that far first.