Lakers’ Anthony Davis sustained an eye injury while attempting to block a dunk by Toronto’s Jakob Poeltl during the third quarter of Sunday night’s game. The incident occurred when Davis executed a one-handed block, but Poeltl’s off hand inadvertently struck him in the face.
Following the injury, the Lakers quickly announced that Davis would not return to the game due to a left eye injury. This is particularly concerning, as Davis had previously suffered a corneal abrasion in the same eye last season.
As the home crowd erupted, Davis fell to the floor in visible distress, rocking back and forth with his hands covering his face. He remained down for about a minute before rising and making his way to the locker room.
Before the injury, Davis was having an impressive game, contributing 22 points, four rebounds, and two blocks. His performance this season has sparked early MVP discussions, further highlighting his significance to the team.
Entering this matchup, Davis led the NBA in scoring with an average of 32.4 points per game, alongside 11.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He has already recorded six games scoring 30 points or more this season.
With Davis sidelined, Jaxson Hayes stepped into the Lakers’ lineup and made an immediate impact, scoring three dunks and a layup to help the team pull ahead.
Davis had missed the previous game against Memphis due to a bruised left heel, adding to his history of injury concerns. However, he managed to play a career-high 76 games last season, showcasing his resilience and commitment to the game.
