2 min read • February 18, 2022
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The Lakers announced Thursday night that they have diagnosed Anthony Davis with a mid-foot sprain in his right foot and he will be re-evaluated in 4 weeks.
The 4-week re-evaluation date is not a promise to return or even be recovered at that point in time, which would be on March 17. It is simply the next step in the process, according to our ProBasketballDocs.
This is not the classic mechanism for a Lisfranc injury, as the damage appears to have been done to the ankle ligaments and not the mid-foot ligaments.
His status and recovery will depend on the grade of the Lisfranc injury and the degree of separation between the connective foot bones and Lisfranc joint.
The good news here is that severe forms require surgery, and he is not slated to undergo immediate surgery.
Davis suffered this apparent sprain on Wednesday night while fighting Rudy Gobert for a rebound.
His legs split, and his right ankle rolled grotesquely on the floor before he was carried into the locker room, during which he struggled to support his own weight.
Because of the violent nature of the sprain, immediate concern was for a fracture and/or dislocation and a severe sprained ankle, but x-rays after the injury came back negative.
Luckily, this injury came right before the all-star break, saving the Lakers at least 3 or 4 games without Davis, but he will still likely miss 12-or-more of Los Angeles' final 24 games.
This will be the soon-to-be-29-year-old's 2nd extended absence this season, and his 3rd in the last calendar year.
He missed 32 games with a right calf strain he suffered in Feb. 2021 and 17 games with a left mcl sprain he suffered Dec. 17, 2021.
In his absence, LeBron James – who is dealing with ongoing swelling in his left knee – will once again have to shoulder the load for the 27-31 Lakers.
Dwight Howard will likely step in at the center position for reserve minutes, but the Lakers may also shift to a small-ball lineup, giving Talen Horton-Tucker, Austin Reaves, and Trevor Ariza more minutes and more scoring opportunities.
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