Anthony Davis to miss multiple weeks with foot injury, sources say

Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis, who had been playing his most dominant basketball in years, is expected to be sidelined for multiple weeks with a right foot injury, sources told ESPN on Sunday.

Davis underwent an MRI on Saturday after leaving Friday night's victory over the visiting Denver Nuggets and was still undergoing more evaluation on Sunday with a specialist, sources said. Lakers coach Darvin Ham said Davis would confer with team doctors at the arena on Sunday night, and later indicated the team would provide an update on Monday.

Davis had appeared to tweak his right foot after his lower leg collided with Nikola Jokic's leg while the two were in midair near the basket in the first quarter on Friday. Davis did not return to the game after halftime.

The 11-year veteran missed more than half of the Lakers' regular-season games over the past two seasons because of various injuries, and Ham was cognizant of that injury-prone reputation with Davis sidelined once again.

"The first priority is to take care of his health," Ham said. "To hell with what people have to say. ... We have a phenomenal medical staff of really, really brilliant people within the organization who make sure he has the best possible care, and once we find out what's going on, we'll act accordingly.

"The season is fairly early, and he just has to take care of his business starting with, first and foremost, getting back healthy."

Davis had previously been ruled out for Sunday's home game against the Washington Wizards.

An extended absence for Davis could have a devastating impact on the Lakers' postseason chances. He is averaging 27.4 points on a career-best 59.3% shooting, 12.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks.

L.A. started Thomas Bryant for Davis in the 119-117 win against the Wizards, along with LeBron James, Lonnie Walker IV, Dennis Schroder and Austin Reaves. Patrick Beverley was held out with a right calf injury.

"Whatever I can do to keep his mind fresh and know that this is just a minor setback for a major comeback and we're going to try to hold down the fort for as long as we can until we get our No. 1 guy back," James said Sunday night. "So, I hope he just has a clear mind and takes his time and understands that it's just temporary and he'll be back on the floor sooner than later."

After a 2-10 start to the season, the Lakers are 13-16 and 1½ games out of the final play-in spot in the Western Conference.

It's been no secret that the Lakers, armed with two future first-round picks, intend to upgrade the roster via a trade or trades, but Ham said the timing of Davis' injury does not add any urgency to that pursuit.

"It's a business. It's professional sports. You're constantly trying to get better," Ham said, "from personnel moves in terms of all up and down the organization. So it's one of those things that's a necessary process, but I don't think AD being in the lineup, being out of the lineup, affects that one bit."