Report: Lakers’ Anthony Davis (Corneal Abrasion) Could Play vs. Hawks

According to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis could play against the Atlanta Hawks tonight (3/18). 

Davis suffered a left corneal abrasion on March 16 versus the Golden State Warriors. 

"Anthony Davis is listed questionable to play tonight against the Hawks, I'm told there is optimism he'll be able to play, he's been able to regain his vision over the last 24 hours."@ShamsCharania updates on AD's injury.

📺: https://t.co/wdT8I0ST8g pic.twitter.com/W4UpskWLf0

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) March 18, 2024

Davis only played 11 minutes against the Warriors. He finished with eight points and four rebounds while shooting 3-of-6 from the field. 

The Lakers lost to the Warriors by seven points. Los Angeles is 36-32 on the season. Despite having Davis and LeBron James, the purple and gold are in 10th place in the Western Conference standings. 

If the season ended today, the Lakers would face the Warriors in the 9-10 play-in tournament game in Golden State. Los Angeles beat the Dubs in the second round of the 2023 playoffs in six games. 

One of the best players in the NBA, Davis is averaging 24.5 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.4 blocks this season while shooting 55.1% from the field, 26.3% from beyond the arc and 81.4% from the free-throw line. 

A nine-time All-Star, Davis is 10th in the NBA in points, 16th in points per game, fourth in rebounds, third in rebounds per game, fourth in blocks and fifth in blocks per game. 

A source familiar with Davis’ injury told NBA reporter Dave McMenamin of ESPN that the Lakers big man began to feel improvement Saturday night (3/16) and continued to improve Sunday (3/17).

Los Angeles got swept by the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. Since Davis and LeBron have been teammates, the Lakers have won a title, lost in the first round of the playoffs, missed the postseason altogether and lost in the conference finals. 

A future Hall of Famer, Davis has career averages of 24.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.3 blocks with the New Orleans Pelicans and Lakers.