Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Davis requires IV at half, still leads Lakers to win

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Tuesday, 03 December 2019 23:32

DENVER -- After flu-like symptoms tore through the Los Angeles Lakers' roster on Tuesday, Anthony Davis, under the weather himself, tore up the Denver Nuggets' game plan, stymieing Nikola Jokic & Co. in L.A.'s 105-96 victory.

Davis, who required intravenous fluids at halftime, finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds to Jokic's 13 and 5, putting the Lakers back in the victory column after Sunday's loss to the Dallas Mavericks snapped their 10-game winning streak.

"Just tried to fight," said Davis, who missed L.A.'s workout Monday and stayed in bed most of Tuesday leading up to tipoff. "Do whatever I can to help the team win. I felt like I could give it a go, and I was able to contribute as much as I can and get the win."

LeBron James' tip dunk with 1 minute, 15 seconds left to put the Lakers up 102-96 might have been the game-sealing play on offense, but it was Davis' repeated stops on the defensive end that put L.A. in that position in the first place.

"Just felt lousy the last two days," Lakers coach Frank Vogel said of Davis. "He comes in and has a ... Defensive Player of the Year type of performance. He's guarding their two best players, Jokic, single coverage, everybody's staying home and Jamal Murray taking him to the basket and he's making defensive play after defensive play.

"And he was outstanding. For him to play through illness and have that kind of performance was something special."

For James, who had 25 points and nine assists, it was just another instance of Davis leading the team by example after he also gutted it out through injuries to his shoulder, elbow and ribs.

"He's been doing it all year," James said. "Playing through injuries, playing through illness like he did tonight. [He's the] Defensive Player of the Year, and he showed tonight once again playing one-on-one versus 'Joker' in the post. When there were switches, going on with Jamal Murray, playing one-on-one versus a small. Got stop after stop after stop. Just a monster game for him."

James estimated that at least six players on the Lakers were sick, including himself, Davis, Kyle Kuzma and Rajon Rondo.

Davis went scoreless in the first quarter, but L.A. still went out to a 28-24 lead. He described his slow start as methodical, not lethargic.

"[The sickness] didn't factor in," Davis said. "I was trying just to make the right play. Not trying to force anything. I think the shots that I had were good shots. But I was kind of overthinking it a little bit. Not because of illness, but the way they were playing me. And then just trying to be aggressive in the second through fourth quarters. Just trying to get my team going, get them some looks and get myself some looks. So the illness didn't really play a big part that I thought it would, especially playing in Denver in the altitude."

The win put the Lakers back atop the NBA standings at 18-3, tied with the Milwaukee Bucks for the league's best record.

Rondo said that performances like Tuesday's should also place Davis atop everyone's minds when discussing the game's best.

"I think it's just a mindset: You can fight through it," Rondo said. "Especially with his attitude, it might be a little bit tough, but he's here for a reason. He's a super-elite player, if not the best player in the game right now as we speak. So I'm not surprised that he played well tonight."

The Lakers continue their stretch of 12 out of 15 games on the road with the second night of a back-to-back set Wednesday in Salt Lake City against the Utah Jazz. Vogel says he believes his players will play through their illnesses again.

"He's one of our leaders," Lakers guard Danny Green said of Davis. "He leads not just by his words or verbally but by his actions. ... Obviously he's dealt with some things in the past, injurywise and some things with sickness, and he's always had some tweaks and bumps and bruises.

"He's had reason to sit out, but he's not sitting out of any games. Now he wants to fight through everything. And he's letting not just us know that he has our back, but he's letting the league know that he's not sitting out for any reason."

Read 358 times

Soccer

Man City face 'tough' season after late collapse

Man City face 'tough' season after late collapse

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPep Guardiola said Manchester City are in for a "tough" season afte...

Man City need more than Haaland as season sits on knife's edge

Man City need more than Haaland as season sits on knife's edge

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMANCHESTER, England -- For 75 minutes on Tuesday night, Manchester...

10-man PSG drop to 26th in narrow loss to Bayern

10-man PSG drop to 26th in narrow loss to Bayern

Bayern Munich battled past 10-man Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the Champions League thanks to Kim Min-...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Giannis out vs. Heat due to pregame knee issue

Giannis out vs. Heat due to pregame knee issue

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMIAMI -- Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for Tues...

Sources: Kings closing in on deal for Crowder

Sources: Kings closing in on deal for Crowder

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFree-agent forward Jae Crowder is close to a deal with the Sacramen...

Baseball

Dodgers split $46M from record MLB playoff pool

Dodgers split $46M from record MLB playoff pool

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- A full postseason share for the World Series champion L...

Starter or reliever? Stay with the Phillies or go elsewhere? All-Star Jeff Hoffman opens up on free agency

Starter or reliever? Stay with the Phillies or go elsewhere? All-Star Jeff Hoffman opens up on free agency

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsJeff Hoffman is one of the most sought-after relievers in this offs...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated