Davis' Eye Injury Spoils LAL-GS Play-In Game Preview
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 17 Mar 2024
What was potentially a preview of the post season play-in between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors was spoiled by an unfortunate eye injury to Lakers center Anthony Davis near the end of the first quarter prompting him not to return for the remainder of the game.
The Warriors took advantage of his absence to carve out a 128-121 road victory at the Crypto.com Arena pulling Golden State ahead of their season series versus the Lakers, 2-1. The Warriors will host their fourth and final meeting.
It's a pity that Davis would have to go with the injury on an intentional "eye contact" by Warrior Tryce Jackson Davis as he went for a follow-up with barely seconds left of the first quarter. Davis had 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists at that point, helping the Lakers to a 36-30 lead over the Warriors.
The game was also promising to be another battle royale as both teams had their superstars playing, i.e. until Davis suffered what was reported later as corneal abrasion. Stephen Curry was back after an ankle injury and Klay Thompson has gone used to his off the bench role. More importantly, it could live up as a preview of their play-in tournament to aspire for the eighth and final playoff seeding as most likely the #9 and #10 placed teams after the regular season.
In the sudden absence of AD, Lebron James stepped up his game and scored 40 points while barely missing a triple double with 8 rebounds and 9 assists. DAngelo Russel backed him up scoring 23 points with Ryu Hachimura's 14 and Austin Reeves 11.
However after a scoreless first quarter, Curry turned hot the rest of the way scoring 31. His hot shooting could have rubbed on Klay, Jonathan Kuminga and Andrew Wiggins who banged in 26, 23 and 16 points respectively in collective efforts for the win. Jackson Davis even "added insult to injury" chipping in 10 points.
Under the new play-in rule, the #9 and #10 meet in a sudden death with the winner facing the loser of the game between #7 and #8 for the last and final playoff seeding. Last season, LA Lakers progressed from the play-in to the Western Finals where it lost to eventual NBA champion Denver Nuggets.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
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