Davis and James both nursing injuries
The Lakers held Anthony Davis out of Sunday night’s 127- 91 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves because of a right calf strain.
With the Lakers playing another game Monday night at Staples Center against the Portland Trail Blazers, coach Frank Vogel said they will be cautious before making a decision on Davis.
The All- Star forward was first injured against the Clippers in the season opener Tuesday and then aggravated it in the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas night.
“We hope he’ll be available tomorrow, but we have to see how he feels tomorrow,” Vogel said during a pregame videoconference. “It’s kind of a day- to- day. See how he responds tomorrow with treatment. But we’re hopeful that he’ll play.”
Vogel said the plan is for LeBron James to play both games, but they will be careful with the 18- year veteran. James, who turns 36 on Wednesday, has been dealing with a sore left ankle that he injured against the Clippers. He played 26 minutes Sunday, scoring 18 points.
“We’re going to be intelligent, responsible and treat it on a case- by- case basis,” Vogel said. “So, the decision on tomorrow’s game will be made tomorrow.”
Resting James and Davis has been a topic since training camp given the Lakers’ abbreviated offseason. Kyle Kuzma started at forward in place of Davis and scored a game- high 20 points against a Timberwolves team missing star big man Karl- Anthony Towns ( wrist).
The Lakers have three sets of back- to- back games in January, hosting San Antonio on Jan. 7 and Chicago on Jan. 8, playing at Houston on the 12th and at Oklahoma City on the 13th and at Philadelphia on the 27th and at Detroit on the 28th. Vogel said they will be smart about how they use their stars.
“It is still within, what I would view, a window of where we would normally be beginning the season,” Vogel said. “But nothing normal about the start of this season for our team. We’re just going to continue to manage our guys the best way we can.”
TONIGHT
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Update: The dangerous backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum struck again during the Trail Blazers’ overtime win over Houston on Saturday night. McCollum had 44 points and Lillard 32. Portland said forward Carmelo Anthony didn’t travel to L. A. because of “health and safety” protocols.