The Lakers avoided the bottom of the Play-In Tournament bracket with a dominant win over the Pelicans on Sunday, but it came at a cost.
On a night that saw him lead the way with 30 points and 11 rebounds, Anthony Davis left late in the fourth quarter with what was believed to be hip and back spasms. The nine-time All-Star appeared to suffer the injury after an awkward landing after a push by Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr.
It's not quite win-or-go-home time for the Lakers, but a win Tuesday would secure them the No. 7 seed and avoid an elimination game against either the Warriors or Kings for the No. 8 seed. A healthy Davis, who is having an All-NBA and All-Defense-worthy season, would certainly help in the team's rematch with the Pelicans.
Will Davis be available to play? Here's the latest on his status for Tuesday's Play-In Tournament game.
MORE: Lakers vs. Pelicans prediction: Who will capture the West's No. 7 seed?
Is Anthony Davis playing tonight?
The Lakers haven't released an injury report for Tuesday's game yet, so Davis' status is unknown.
The good news for Los Angeles is head coach Darvin Ham said after Sunday's game that he was "extremely optimistic" Davis would be available against the Pelicans. Davis also told reporters that he would definitely be playing Tuesday.
Davis appeared in a career-best 76 games in the 2023-24 regular season while averaging 24.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.3 blocks.
The Lakers were 45-31 in the games in which Davis appeared and 2-4 without him.
What channel is Lakers vs. Pelicans?
- Date: Tuesday, April 16
- TV channel: TNT
- Live streaming: Sling TV
The Lakers and Pelicans will battle for the Western Conference's No. 7 seed on Tuesday, April 16. The game will be broadcast on TNT. Viewers can also stream the game on Sling TV.
Fans in the U.S. can watch the NBA Play-In Tournament and playoffs on Sling TV. Sling is the home for avid sports fans offering a range of sports channels so you can always cheer for your favorite teams with channels like ESPN, TBS, TNT, NFL Network, FS1 and more.
What time is Lakers vs. Pelicans tonight?
- Date: Tuesday, April 16
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET | 4:30 p.m. PT
Tuesday's Play-In game between the Lakers and Pelicans is scheduled to tip off around 7:30 p.m. ET from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
Play-In Tournament bracket
THE BRACKET IS SET 🍿 pic.twitter.com/guxcNaGEFf
— NBA (@NBA) April 14, 2024
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