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The Los Angeles Lakers gathered around Anthony Davis while the six-time All-Star writhed in pain on the Staples Center floor.
Another breezy blowout win had just become much less fun for the Lakers and their superstar big man, although it's too soon to say just how serious it will be for their championship dreams.
Davis left in the third quarter after bruising his lower back on a painful fall during the Lakers' sixth straight victory, 117-87 over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.
Davis bruised his sacrum — the bottom part of his spine above the tailbone — when he attempted to block Julius Randle's driving shot. He got knocked off balance and fell awkwardly to the court, landing hard on his back with 2:45 left in the third.
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The Lakers were anxious as they surrounded him under the basket.
“Fingers crossed, hope for the best, pray for the best,” coach Frank Vogel said.
Davis pounded the court in pain and stayed down for roughly two minutes, but eventually rose with his teammates' help and then slowly walked off unaided.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis winces as he hits the court after falling while trying to defend against a shot by New York Knicks forward Julius Randle during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, in Los Angeles. Davis left the game. The Lakers won 117-87. (Associated Press)
“We're hoping he'll be fine, and we believe he'll be fine,” said LeBron James, who played through illness. “Tough night for us.”
X-rays were negative, but Davis didn't return to the game and he was scheduled for additional testing overnight. His agent, Rich Paul, said his client felt extremely sore.
It seems quite likely Davis will miss at least a little playing time this month, given the Lakers' lofty record and the long road to the playoffs still ahead. The Lakers have a two-game road trip starting Friday in Dallas.
“We hope he's all right,” Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said. “We're just hoping he'll get better soon. We need him.”
James scored 31 points and Caldwell-Pope added 15 after bouncing back from a flagrant foul to his head by Bobby Portis, but the Lakers (30-7) didn't exactly celebrate becoming the second NBA team to win 30 games this season.
Davis, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, is the primary reason behind Los Angeles' swift rise to the top of the Western Conference. He is averaging 27.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in his first season after the Lakers traded most of their young core to New Orleans for him.
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“He's one of our pillars,” Vogel said. “He's our present. He's our future. He's one of the best players in the world, so obviously he means a lot.”
R.J. Barrett scored 19 points for the Knicks, and Randle had 15 points and 10 rebounds against his former team. New York dropped to 0-3 on its four-game West Coast trip.
Los Angeles had little trouble holding off the Knicks in the second half despite Davis' abrupt exit. The Lakers pushed their lead to 30 early in the fourth quarter with a run led by James, who scored 16 points in 16 minutes in the second half.
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