Getty Images Kyle Kuzma #0 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are off to an incredible start to the season as they lead the league with a 24-3 record. The team is currently riding a seven-game winning stretch and are seeking their eighth straight win Tuesday against the Indiana Pacers.
Ahead of this game, the Lakers released their injury report which lists Kyle Kuzma (left ankle sprain) as out and Anthony Davis (right ankle sprain) as questionable, per SB Nation. Shortly before game time, Davis was then ruled out for the matchup.
Kyle Kuzma’s Injury
GettyKyle Kuzma of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Today will be the fourth game in a row that Kuzma has been sidelined due to an ankle injury. On Nov. 29 against the Washington Wizards, Kuzma left the court during the fourth quarter with ankle pain.
“He probably could have stayed in there if we needed him to. He was favoring it a little bit and with a big lead, again, similar to the situation with his eye, we used better judgement and got him out,” Vogel said. “We’ll see how he is tomorrow.”
Since his injury, Kuzma has played but has not fully healed. For this reason, Vogel said that the team will “take their time with Kuzma’s ankle and allow him to get back closer to 100%.”
This isn’t the first injury that Kuzma has suffered this season. Kuzma suffered an eye abrasion earlier this year and was out at the start of this season due to a stress reaction in his foot that he suffered with Team USA in July. So far this season Kuzma is averaging 11.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
Anthony Davis Injury
Getty ImagesAnthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers
Davis has put together a stellar first stretch as a member of the Lakers, as he is currently averaging 27.4 points, 9.3 boards and 3.3 assists a game. He was listed as questionable for the game as he too is suffering from an ankle sprain. In Sunday’s win over the Atlanta Hawks, Davis twisted his ankle towards the end of the game.
“I just wanted to finish the game,” Davis said, per ClutchPoints. “Tweaked it a little bit, but just tried to play the rest of the game off adrenaline and then attend to it after the game.”
Davis closed out the game with 27 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal. He is currently in recovery but is moving forward on a day-to-day basis. According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Davis was ‘trying to play’ against the Pacers.