NBA: Lakers star Anthony Davis sidelined till March despite encouraging scan

Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis faces a lengthy time at the sidelines despite a scan revealing he had not suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon, ESPN reported on Monday.

ESPN said Davis was unlikely to return to action before the NBA’s All-Star break, due to take place from March 5-10. 

The 27-year-old’s fitness was in question after he limped out of Sunday’s defeat to the Denver Nuggets with a recurrence of his Achilles problem.

Davis missed two games against the Oklahoma City Thunder last week with tendonosis in his right Achilles before returning to face Memphis on Friday.

A statement from the Lakers said Davis’s MRI scan done on Monday revealed no sign of a ruptured right Achilles tendon.

“Davis will miss tomorrow’s game vs. Minnesota, and will be further evaluated by team doctors upon his return to Los Angeles,” the Lakers said.

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The team did not give a likely timetable for his return, but ESPN suggested he faced “two to three weeks” on the sidelines.

Any long-term injury to Davis would deal a hammer blow to the Lakers’ hopes of defending their NBA crown.

Davis, who joined the Lakers in 2019, played a pivotal role in the team’s march to the franchise’s 17th NBA championship.

So far this season, Davis has averaged 22.5 points per game in 23 appearances.