Anthony Davis on his back: ‘It was killing me tonight’

Arash Markazi: Good news: Lakers win. Bad news: Anthony Davis back is hurting him so bad, he did his postgame interview on the court while sitting down. He was visibly in pain late. “It was killing me tonight.” Source: Twitter @ArashMarkazi What’s …

Arash Markazi: Good news: Lakers win. Bad news: Anthony Davis back is hurting him so bad, he did his postgame interview on the court while sitting down. He was visibly in pain late. “It was killing me tonight.”

Source: Twitter @ArashMarkazi

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
Anthony Davis on Russell Westbrook’s success coming off the bench: “In the last two games, he just kinda been doing his thing. Proud of him. Obviously, it’s a tough pill to swallow, but he’s been locked in and accepting his role.” – 1:23 AM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Ham on AD gutting through his back soreness: “Huge impact. The way he fought through that … he said ‘Hell no, I got you'” (re: coming out).
“I want him to be the AD we all know he can be. He showed it tonight. Tenaciousness on defense, timely shot making, (determination).” – 12:21 AM
Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
The Lakers gave Darvin Ham “a shower” to commemorate his first win. Anthony Davis smiled and warned us not to be surprised if Ham comes into the press conference room wet. – 12:13 AM
Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
When I asked Anthony Davis how much pain he’s in, he said “a pretty good amount.” He said his back pain feels like little shocks that come and go, but he’s pushing through it. – 12:12 AM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
The Lakers Trio got it done ⭐
LeBron: 26 PTS, 6 REB, 8 AST
AD: 23 PTS, 15 REB
Westbrook: 18 PTS, 8 REB, 8 AST pic.twitter.com/wce558COzW12:10 AM

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi
Good news: Lakers win.
Bad news: Anthony Davis back is hurting him so bad, he did his postgame interview on the court while sitting down. He was visibly in pain late.
“It was killing me tonight.” – 11:59 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
AD this season:
23.8 PPG
10.6 RPG
2.4 SPG
2.0 BPG
53.3 FG%
The only player averaging 20p/10r/2s/2b in the NBA. pic.twitter.com/oQYxuZVbUs11:56 PM

Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwa
LAKERS WIN, 121-110 the final…
-Bron 26pts 8ast 6rebs
-AD 23pts 15rebs
-Russ 18pts 8ast 8rebs (off the bench)
Finally a W, see if they can build off of it…Next game, Wednesday night vs Zion and the Pelicans
@ESPNLosAngeles11:56 PM
Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Lakers get first win of the season, a 121-110 victory over Nuggets. LeBron James had 26 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, AD 23 points, 15 rebounds and Russell Westbrook 18 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists. – 11:55 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
The last winless team in the NBA finally gets in the right column. Lakers top the Nuggets 121-110. LeBron had 26, AD had 23 and 15, Russ had 18, 8 and 8, plus the love of his home fans. The attendees get two free tacos from Jack in the Box. Everyone can exhale. – 11:55 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
And the streak is over. The Lakers nab their first win of the season, 121-110, over DEN are now 1-5. LeBron 26p 8a 6r; AD 23p 15r; Russ 18p 8r 8a; Lonnie 18p 5r 2b; Reaves 10p 4r. Darvin Ham has his first win as a head coach in the NBA. – 11:54 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Final: Lakers 121, Nuggets 110
The Lakers win their first game of the season and improve to 1-5. A gutsy performance from AD (23 points, 15 rebounds). LeBron led all scorers with 26 points. LA made a season-high 13 3-pointers. Russ had 18, 8 and 8.
Up next: New Orleans on Wed. – 11:53 PM
Bob Garcia @bgarciaivsports
AD hyping Russ up before he takes his FTs. – 11:52 PM
Bob Garcia @bgarciaivsports
AD staying in the game is a good sign. – 11:50 PM
Bob Garcia @bgarciaivsports
Anthony Davis aggravated his back. Oh no. – 11:47 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
AD makes a critical putback but immediately grabs his back afterward. He’s grimacing with every step. – 11:47 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
AD has outplayed Joker so far – 11:32 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Third quarter: Lakers 93, Nuggets 85
The Lakers closed the frame on an 18-2 run. The crowd is buzzing. LeBron has 19 points, 4 rebounds + 6 assists. Anthony Davis has 15 points + 13 rebounds. Russell Westbrook has 15 points, 5 rebounds + 7 assists. LA is 10-for-23 on 3s (43.5%). – 11:22 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Russ just literally got the crowd to stand up and applaud during this AD free throw. Consider the state of affairs a week ago. What a moment today. – 11:17 PM
Ryan McDonald @ryanwmcdonald
Inside how BYU AD Tom Holmoe’s Halloween costumes come together https://t.co/wCsvvoS7Ae pic.twitter.com/oVPA6I5a8a11:12 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
We go to the half with the Lakers up 55-51. AD has anchored the action with 13p and 7r, LeBron’s shaken off a rough start to tally 9p 5a 4r and Westbrook has been very good off the bench with 11p 5a 4r. Meanwhile, the defense has held DEN to 38% – 10:42 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Halftime: Lakers 55, Nuggets 51
Anthony Davis has 13 points and 7 rebounds. A rough shooting half for LeBron (4-for-11), including several missed layups. Russell Westbrook continues to play better in his new bench role. The Lakers are 5-for-14 on 3s (35.7%). – 10:41 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
HALFTIME: Lakers 55, Nuggets 51.
AD leads the Lakers with 13 points on 6 for 8 shooting, though his back has seemed pretty touch and go. How about Russell Westbrook: 11 points, 4 for 8 shooting, 5 assists, plus-9. – 10:41 PM
Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Lakers open a 55-51 lead over Nuggets at the half. AD has 13 points, 7 rebounds, Russell Westbrook 11 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds. LeBron James has 9 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds. – 10:40 PM
Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi
Lakers fans used to chant, “We want tacos!” at the end of wins.
Billy Mac doing an ad read for the taco promotion tonight: “One of these days we’re going to give this away.’ pic.twitter.com/l12uT2sOYQ10:35 PM

Gordon Gross @GMoneyNuggs
I am once again asking someone to box out Anthony Davis. – 10:17 PM
John Hollinger @johnhollinger
That DeAndre tip in was right in front of me, and both LeBron and AD were giving it to Zach Zarba wanting a goaltend call. – 10:17 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
The Lakers fell down by as many as 10 but go into the 2nd Q down 31-26. AD has 11p on 5-for-5. LeBron started 0-for-4, all around the rim, but ended the Q with a dunk. Russ scored 5p off the bench. – 10:15 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
First quarter: Nuggets 31, Lakers 26
Anthony Davis leads LA with 11 points (5-5 FGs), one steal and one block. LeBron is an uncharacteristic 1-for-5. The Lakers are 2-for-5 on 3s (40%!!). The bench helped trim the deficit. Nikola Jokic has 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. – 10:13 PM
Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Lakers down 31-26 to Nuggets end of first. AD leads Lakers with 11 points. – 10:11 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
If the Lakers have both lebron and AD available on this specific roster, Ham gotta make sure one of them is on the floor at all times – 10:08 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
In the past few possessions, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves have had a spirited dialogue over who was at fault on a recent turnover – 10:01 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Anthony Davis: 9 points on 4-for-4 shooting. Rest of Lakers: 6 points on 2-for-13 shooting. – 9:59 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
AD has carried the Lakers early with 4 of their 5 made FG’s in 12 attempts, with the rest of the squad missing several layups (no 3-point attempts yet, as DEN’s paint has been pretty open).
Nuggets lead 15-11 into the first time out. – 9:53 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Not sure Anthony Davis, who missed last game with back tightness, is moving at full speed, but he sure is scoring. He’s 3 of 4 for 7 points. Unfortunately for the Lakers, he’s the only one so far to make a shot (Troy Brown just was awarded a FG on a goal tend). – 9:52 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Anthony Davis can barely move up and down the floor but has all 7 of the Lakers’ points already. – 9:52 PM
John Hollinger @johnhollinger
AD running back awkwardly after that tip dunk. Something to watch. – 9:51 PM
Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Lakers say Anthony Davis is playing tonight – 8:32 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
Anthony Davis is officially playing tonight, per the Lakers. – 8:31 PM
Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
Anthony Davis and LeBron James are available tonight, per Lakers – 8:31 PM
Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
Lakers say Anthony Davis (low back tightness) and LeBron James (left foot soreness) have been upgraded to AVAILABLE for tonight’s game vs. Denver. – 8:31 PM
Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
Anthony Davis is officially available for tonight, per the Lakers – 8:31 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Anthony Davis is indeed available today against Denver. – 8:30 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Anthony Davis will play tonight. – 8:30 PM
Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
Here’s video of AD shooting around before the game: pic.twitter.com/qNQAw19DTf8:04 PM

Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Darvin Ham said that Anthony Davis hasn’t received any imaging. It comes down to AD handling pain management and Lakers’ training staff determining whether he’s good enough to play. – 8:00 PM
Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
Darvin Ham on Anthony Davis: “We feel good about him being available.” Ham said the back is tricky and the team is taking it one day at a time with Davis, while adding that they’re in a good place in terms of managing the injury. – 7:52 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Lakers coach Darvin Ham on Anthony Davis’ status for tonight vs Nuggets: “We feel good about him being available.” AD will complete a pre-game warmup first – 7:50 PM
Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Darvin Ham said AD wants to give it a go for game but he’s going thru pre game workouts first – 7:50 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Anthony Davis will go through his pregame workout and then decide if he’s going to play vs. Denver, according to Darvin Ham. Ham said he’s confident Davis will play. – 7:50 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Darvin Ham says Anthony Davis is going through his pregame before officially determining his status but “we feel good about him being available.” – 7:50 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
Darvin Ham says Anthony Davis will “try to give it a go” tonight vs. DEN. – 7:50 PM
Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwa
AD is going to go thru pre game, still game time decision… – 7:50 PM
Michael Singer @msinger
Darvin Ham says Anthony Davis is “going to try to give it a go,” tonight. – 7:50 PM
Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
Caris LeVert Friday became the 5th visiting player in the last decade with multiple 40-point games at TD Garden.
Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook and Joel Embiid also have two.
Bradley Beal is the only one with three.
Returning to the Garden tonight?
Bradley Beal. – 4:14 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
Juan Toscano-Anderson will miss his second straight game with a left ankle sprain, per the Lakers. Anthony Davis remains questionable. – 1:42 PM
Paul Pierce @paulpierce34
What’s going on with the Brooklyn Nets . I think it’s time to start the AD for KD rumors right now 🤷🏾‍♂️ – 1:20 PM
Paul Pierce @paulpierce34
What’s going on with the Brooklyn Nets . I think it’s time to start the AD do KD rumors right now 🤷🏾‍♂️ – 1:18 PM

More on this storyline

Dave McMenamin: Anthony Davis said he approached Russell Westbrook in the locker room postgame to tell him how he is proud of him for how he accepted his role that Darvin Ham laid out for him, saying Westbrook is “flourishing” off the bench so far -via Twitter @mcten / October 31, 2022