San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
L.A.’S A.D. MAY PLAY TODAY
Lakers star Anthony Davis, who has been recovering from a sprained left knee ligament, has been upgraded to questionable for today’s game in Miami and will be a game-time decision, the team said Saturday.
After Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ vice president of basketball operations and general manager, watched Davis work out before the Lakers’ victory in Orlando, Fla., on Friday night, the sense is that the All-star forward is ready to play against the Heat, according to people with knowledge of the situation.
Davis has missed 16 games since suffering the injury Dec. 17 at Minnesota.
The Lakers went 7-9 with Davis sidelined.
Davis was cleared for fullcontact, on-court workouts earlier this week, coach Frank Vogel said Monday after the Lakers’ 101-95 victory over the Utah Jazz.
“There’s still a reconditioning and ramp-up of work involved, but we won’t have a timeline on him,” Vogel said.
According to people with knowledge of the situation, there was hope Davis could return to the lineup during the Lakers’ six-game trip, which continues through Jan. 30 with a final stop in Atlanta.
Davis was injured when Timberwolves forward Jaden Mcdaniels, who was shoved by a cutting Lebron James, stumbled into Davis’ leg. Davis awkwardly fell to the court and immediately grabbed at his knee.
“Freaky play,” Davis said afterward. “Nothing really I could do to get out the way.”
On his way to the locker room, Davis fell to the ground in pain, an image that caused significant concern.
“Just throbbing, pain and the pressure from one end of the court all the way to the other,” he said.
“I just reached a point where it was tough to walk. I had to take a break.”
Caruso breaks wrist
Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso will have surgery next week to repair his broken right wrist after he was taken down by Grayson Allen during the third quarter of Friday night’s 94-90 loss at Milwaukee.
The team said Caruso will be re-evaluated in six to eight weeks. It’s another tough blow for Chicago (28-16) after it announced Thursday that guard Lonzo Ball needs arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.
Caruso, who turns 28 on Feb. 28, is averaging 8.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 28 games in his first season with Chicago.
Caruso was driving to the basket Friday night when a hard foul from Allen caused him to land on his right side. Caruso lay on the floor for a few minutes, though he stayed in the game to attempt the free throws that resulted from Allen’s flagrant 2 foul.
“For Alex to be in the air like that, and for (Allen) to take him down like that, it could have ended (Caruso’s) career,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said after the loss. “And (Allen) has a history of this. That to me was really, it was really dangerous.”
Saturday’s games
Bucks 133, Kings 127: Khris Middleton scored 34 points and Jrue Holiday added 26 to lead host Milwaukee over Sacramento, making up for the absence of teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo (sore knee).
Cavaliers 94, Thunder 87:
Darius Garland had 23 points and 11 assists to lead host Cleveland past Oklahoma City, which got 29 points from Shai Gilgeous-alexander.
Suns 113, Pacers 103:
Mikal Bridges tied a season high with 23 points, Bismack Biyombo matched his career best with 21 and host Phoenix won its sixth straight game.
Notable
Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. is out of health and safety protocols and available to be on the sideline today against the Boston Celtics.