USA Today via Reuters
May 30, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) controls the ball against Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder (99) during the first half in game four of the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
May 30, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) controls the ball against Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder (99) during the first half in game four of the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers are playing against the Phoenix Suns tonight in a must win game for the champions as they are on the brink of an elimination.
After taking a commanding 2-1, the series seemed like a cakewalk for Lakers. Injuries changed the series though. With superstar Anthony Davis suffering from a groin strain in game 4, it is safe to say that the Lakers struggled.
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Especially in game 5. With the supporting cast underperforming, LeBron James couldn’t carry the Lakers anywhere and this game was pretty much done at the first half when the Suns led the game by 30 points.
Anthony Davis leaves Lakers vs Suns game 6 with injury
Given that they have their backs against the wall, the Lakers are certainly ready to put it all on the table in a last ditch effort. Despite Davis clearly not at a 100%, the Lakers medical staff cleared the 8-time All-Star for the game.
This was certainly a gamble given that AD was clearly struggling in the warm-ups in game 5. A quarter into the game, this gamble has certainly not paid off for the champions. After starting and clearly struggling for five minutes straight on the floor, it was clear that Davis was not fit for the game.
The 8-time All-Star hobbled across to the court and hasn’t looked the same. With chances of re-aggravating the strain increasing rapidly, coach Vogel immediately replaced Davis.
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The Lakers have now confirmed that the big man is out for the rest of the game.
Anthony Davis’ night is officially over, per the Lakers. AD did not do anything in the first quarter to make his left groin strain more severe than it already wasy, sources tell ESPN. It was the “same feeling” as it was going into the game, sources said. He just wasn’t right.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 4, 2021
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Lakers struggles meanwhile continue against the Suns. Frank Vogel certainly hasn’t had any answer for Devin Booker in the last two games. After torching the Lakers with 18 points in the first quarter of game 5, the 24-year-old has bettered his own performance scoring a whooping 22 points in the first quarter. The Suns have also shot lights out from the three point line right now shooting 12 of the 18 attempted triples.
With the Lakers struggling to score and Suns shooting lights out, Phoenix are in the driving seat of this match-up leading the game 55-31 mid-way through the second quarter. Can LeBron James rally his team to a comeback or will we see the champions crashing out of the first round itself?
