Lakers lose Game 5 to Warriors, Anthony Davis to head injury
Lakers forward LeBron James drives to the basket as Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis is defended by Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson takes a shot as the Lakers’ Lonnie Walker IV defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, right, passes the ball while being defended by Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
The Golden State Warriors’ Jordan Poole takes a shot in front of Lakers guard Dennis Schröder during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis, right, shoots as Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green reacts after making a 3-point shot during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series against the Lakers on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, left, celebrates after making a 3-point shot, as Lakers forward LeBron James heads up the court during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt shoots as Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
The Golden State Warriors’ Gary Payton II passes the ball as Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2) defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis dunks during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry handles the ball as Lakers forward LeBron James defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry scores in front of Lakers star Anthony Davis during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry gestures while running up the court during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series against the Lakers on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Lakers forward LeBron James holds the ball as Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, left, defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, left, shoots as Lakers forward Rui Hachimura defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II, left, reaches for the ball against Lakers guard Austin Reaves during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green takes a shot over the back of Lakers guard Dennis Schröder during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers forward LeBron James gestures during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Lakers guard Dennis Schroder drives as Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Lakers forward LeBron James (6) takes a shot as the Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
The Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins takes as 3-point shot as Lakers forward LeBron James defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura shoots during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson reacts during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series against the Lakers on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Lakers guard Dennis Schroder shoots as Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
The Golden State Warriors’ Kevon Looney, right, forces a jump ball against Lakers forward Rui Hachimura during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers forward LeBron James shoots during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody shoots as Lakers forward Anthony Davis defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Lakers star Anthony Davis shoots as Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, left, and Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney vie for a rebound during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers forward LeBron James brings the ball up the court during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry drives against Lakers guard Dennis Schröder during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers forward LeBron James shoots as the Golden State Warriors’ Gary Payton II defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney, right, battles for a rebound against Lakers forward LeBron James during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell shoots as Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Lakers forward LeBron James drives to the basket past Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson drives as Lakers forward Rui Hachimura defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves shoots as Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
The Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins takes a shot over the Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell (1) during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers guard Lonnie Walker IV drives to the basket as Golden State Warriors guard Donte DiVincenzo defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, left, passes the ball as Lakers star Anthony Davis defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell shoots during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry drives as Lakers star Anthony Davis defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers forward LeBron James dribbles the ball as Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Lakers forward LeBron James shoots as Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green celebrates his basket after also drawing a foul on Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers forward LeBron James shoots as Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson takes a shot over Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers star Anthony Davis takes a shot as Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers forward LeBron James drives to the basket between the Golden State Warriors’ Gary Payton II, left, and Andrew Wiggins during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Lakers forward LeBron James drives to the basket between the Golden State Warriors’ Gary Payton II, left, and Andrew Wiggins during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins takes a shot in front of Lakers forward LeBron James during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers star Anthony Davis dunks during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins drives as Lakers forward LeBron James defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
The Golden State Warriors’ Gary Payton II, left, battles for the ball against Lakers star Anthony Davis during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers forward LeBron James handles the ball as the Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Lakers star Anthony Davis takes a shot as Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green defends during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr watches from the sideline during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series against the Lakers on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis, middle, reaches for the ball between Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II, left, and forward Andrew Wiggins during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night in San Francisco. The Warriors won, 121-106, to avoid elimination and send the series back to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Friday night. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
The Golden State Warriors’ Jordan Poole shoots during the first half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series against the Lakers on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis holds his head on the bench after taking a blow to the head during the second half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis sits on the bench after taking a blow to the head during the second half of Game 5 of their second-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
SAN FRANCISCO — Anthony Davis walked slowly, silently from the locker room about an hour after the Lakers’ 121-106 loss to the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday night at Chase Center. He didn’t need assistance, but his gait was deliberate, measured.
Davis was the last of the Lakers to depart after he was forced from the game after he was struck in the side of the head by an accidental, flailing elbow from the Warriors’ Kevon Looney as D’Angelo Russell made a driving layup with 7:43 left in a loss that cut their series lead to 3-2.
“Yeah, obviously, everyone saw he took a shot to the head, but we just checked in on him,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said when asked after the game about Davis’ condition. “He seems to be doing really good already. That’s just where he’s at. That’s the status of it right now.”
Ham couldn’t say whether Davis would be sound enough to play in Game 6 on Friday at Crypto.com Arena. Davis scored 18 of his 23 points in the first half before leaving the court for the locker room. He was taken to be examined by medical personnel in a wheelchair for precautionary reasons, per the Lakers.
Davis did not speak to reporters as he departed the arena for the team’s bus and a trip home via a chartered airplane. The Lakers did not issue an official injury update after the game. Chris Haynes, a TNT reporter citing an unnamed NBA source, wrote on Twitter that Davis avoided a concussion.
The Lakers found themselves in the same situation after their Game 5 loss to the Warriors as in their first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies. They took a 3-1 series lead into Game 5 on Wednesday, just as they did in their series against the Grizzlies. Each game was on the road.
They lost each game handily in front of a raucous crowd on the road.
They eliminated the Grizzlies with a 40-point rout in Game 6.
This time, it’s different because of the uncertainty over Davis.
“I didn’t see the shot,” LeBron James said of Looney’s elbow to Davis’ head, with the Lakers trailing the Warriors by 99-88 and well on their way to a 15-point loss in a must-win game for Golden State. “I just seen the aftermath. But the medical team said he’s doing better. That’s what matters the most.”
Said Austin Reaves: “Obviously, A.D. is huge to what we do. I believe he’ll play (in Game 6). If that’s not the case, we’re still a group of NBA basketball players that have played games without him this year. You never want to play a game, a big game, without a guy like that, but that’s the nature of the game.
“That’s really it.”
Davis is averaging 21.5 points on 52.9 percent shooting plus 13.5 rebounds in 11 playoff games overall, and 22.4 points on 58.1 percent shooting plus 13.4 rebounds in the five games against the Warriors so far. James leads the Lakers with an average of 22.8 points and is second with 10.1 rebounds.
James led the Lakers with 25 points on 9-for-17 shooting in Game 5, including 3 of 7 from 3-point range. Reaves and Russell each had 15 points and Dennis Schroder had 14 points in a reserve role. But no other Lakers player scored more than four points as they failed to match the Warriors’ depth.
Steph Curry led Golden State with 27 points on 12-for-24 shooting, Andrew Wiggins had 25 points on 10-for-18 shooting and Draymond Green had 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting plus a team-leading 10 rebounds. All five Warriors starters scored 10 points or more in a series-extending victory.
Golden State led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter, maintaining a double-digit lead for most of the second half.
Now the series shifts to Los Angeles, where the Lakers are 6-0, including their play-in game victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. They won Game 3 over the Warriors by 30 points and then rallied in the fourth quarter to win Game 4, thanks to Lonnie Walker IV’s 15-point final quarter.
“Well, we didn’t handle our business (Wednesday night), so I look forward to seeing our fans for another game in the second round,” James said. “You know, those six games are out the window. It’s over and done with. Our job is to try to be 1-0 on Friday. I look forward to that opportunity.”
Reminded of the Lakers’ must-win approach to Game 6, James said:
“I don’t take those moments for granted,” James said. “When you get an opportunity to be recognized as one of the best players in the league and have one of the best seasons and make (an) All-NBA team, I don’t take anything that I’ve been able to accomplish for granted.”
