Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Lakers' Davis Cleared to Play After Eye Poke, Refusing Goggles Despite Recurring Injuries
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 1 week ago on
November 13, 2024

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, right, walks off the court with head coach JJ Redick after an injury during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

EL SEGUNDO — Anthony Davis says he has recovered from being poked in the left eye by Toronto’s Jakob Poeltl, and his latest eye injury still hasn’t persuaded him to wear protective goggles.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ star big man said Tuesday that he will play Wednesday night against Memphis. Davis brushed off the potential impact of the injury, even though his left eye was noticeably discolored and red after practice at the Lakers’ training complex.

“I’ll go about my day and do what I need to do,” Davis said. “Next up is getting more sleep.”

Davis said he has “no idea” if his latest injury is another corneal abrasion. He had that injury last March after getting poked in a game against Golden State but didn’t miss any time.

“A couple of scratches in my eye,” Davis said. “As far as the medical term and all that, I’m not 100% sure, but I’m cleared to play.”

Davis Remains Firm on Not Wearing Goggles

Each time Davis gets poked in the face by opponents, the nine-time All-Star is asked whether he will consider wearing goggles or protective glasses like similarly dominant big men Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Amare Stoudemire. Before the usual question was even completed Tuesday, Davis replied: “No.”

“I don’t want to, and the doctor said I didn’t have to,” Davis said. “Now if it gets to a point where doctor orders are to (wear goggles), then of course I will.”

Davis wore goggles for about three years as a blue-chip high school prospect. He tried wearing goggles again briefly during the Lakers’ championship run in the Florida pandemic bubble in 2020 but quickly gave up.

Injury Occurred During Impressive Block

Davis got hurt midway through the third quarter against Toronto on Sunday night while making a sensational one-handed block of a dunk attempt by Poeltl, who accidentally clocked Davis in the face with his off hand. Davis didn’t return to the game, but the Lakers still surged to a 123-103 victory over the Raptors.

Davis is off to an outstanding start to the regular season, sparking early MVP talk for the 31-year-old. He is second in the NBA with 31.2 points per game, along with 10.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 blocks for the Lakers (6-4).

Lakers Face Depth Issues at Center

Davis’ backup is Jaxson Hayes, who had a season-high 12 points against Toronto. But the Lakers are thin at center in the continuing absence of Christian Wood, who had a recent setback in his recovery from left knee surgery.

Lakers coach JJ Redick said Wood had soreness in his knee while returning to workouts in recent days. Wood has been sidelined for two months.

“We’re going to scale him back,” Redick said. “We’ll have an update in about four weeks.”

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What to Know About Pam Bondi, Trump’s New Pick for Attorney General

DON'T MISS

North Korean Leader Says Past Diplomacy Only Confirmed US Hostility

DON'T MISS

Democrats Strike Deal to Get More Biden Judges Confirmed Before Congress Adjourns

DON'T MISS

Newsom Gaslights on Potential Gas Price Hikes in Fresno Visit

DON'T MISS

Automakers to Trump: Please Require Us to Sell Electric Vehicles

DON'T MISS

President Biden Welcomes 2024 NBA Champion Boston Celtics to White House

DON'T MISS

Ohtani Makes History With 3rd MVP, Judge Claims 2nd AL Honor

DON'T MISS

Trump Chooses Pam Bondi for Attorney General Pick After Gaetz Withdraws

DON'T MISS

Average Rate on a 30-Year Mortgage in the US Rises to Highest Level Since July

DON'T MISS

Cutting in Line? American Airlines’ New Boarding Tech Might Stop You at Now Over 100 Airports

UP NEXT

North Korean Leader Says Past Diplomacy Only Confirmed US Hostility

UP NEXT

Democrats Strike Deal to Get More Biden Judges Confirmed Before Congress Adjourns

UP NEXT

Newsom Gaslights on Potential Gas Price Hikes in Fresno Visit

UP NEXT

Automakers to Trump: Please Require Us to Sell Electric Vehicles

UP NEXT

President Biden Welcomes 2024 NBA Champion Boston Celtics to White House

UP NEXT

Ohtani Makes History With 3rd MVP, Judge Claims 2nd AL Honor

UP NEXT

Trump Chooses Pam Bondi for Attorney General Pick After Gaetz Withdraws

UP NEXT

Average Rate on a 30-Year Mortgage in the US Rises to Highest Level Since July

UP NEXT

Cutting in Line? American Airlines’ New Boarding Tech Might Stop You at Now Over 100 Airports

UP NEXT

MLB Will Test Robot Umpires at 13 Spring Training Ballparks Hosting 19 Teams

Newsom Gaslights on Potential Gas Price Hikes in Fresno Visit

11 hours ago

Automakers to Trump: Please Require Us to Sell Electric Vehicles

11 hours ago

President Biden Welcomes 2024 NBA Champion Boston Celtics to White House

11 hours ago

Ohtani Makes History With 3rd MVP, Judge Claims 2nd AL Honor

11 hours ago

Trump Chooses Pam Bondi for Attorney General Pick After Gaetz Withdraws

12 hours ago

Average Rate on a 30-Year Mortgage in the US Rises to Highest Level Since July

12 hours ago

Cutting in Line? American Airlines’ New Boarding Tech Might Stop You at Now Over 100 Airports

12 hours ago

MLB Will Test Robot Umpires at 13 Spring Training Ballparks Hosting 19 Teams

13 hours ago

Death Toll in Gaza From Israel-Hamas War Passes 44,000, Palestinian Officials Say

13 hours ago

Jussie Smollett’s Conviction in 2019 Attack on Himself Is Overturned

13 hours ago

What to Know About Pam Bondi, Trump’s New Pick for Attorney General

NEW YORK — Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, was chosen Thursday by Donald Trump to serve as U.S. attorney general hours after...

9 hours ago

9 hours ago

What to Know About Pam Bondi, Trump’s New Pick for Attorney General

10 hours ago

North Korean Leader Says Past Diplomacy Only Confirmed US Hostility

10 hours ago

Democrats Strike Deal to Get More Biden Judges Confirmed Before Congress Adjourns

11 hours ago

Newsom Gaslights on Potential Gas Price Hikes in Fresno Visit

President Joe Biden with Mary Barra, the chief executive of General Motors, at the Detroit Auto Show, Sept. 14, 2022. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to erase the Biden administration’s tailpipe rules designed to get carmakers to produce electric vehicles, but most U.S. automakers want to keep them. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
11 hours ago

Automakers to Trump: Please Require Us to Sell Electric Vehicles

11 hours ago

President Biden Welcomes 2024 NBA Champion Boston Celtics to White House

11 hours ago

Ohtani Makes History With 3rd MVP, Judge Claims 2nd AL Honor

Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally at First Horizon Coliseum, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Greensboro, NC. (AP/Alex Brandon)
12 hours ago

Trump Chooses Pam Bondi for Attorney General Pick After Gaetz Withdraws

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend