EL SEGUNDO — Lakers star big man Anthony Davis said after Tuesday’s practice that his left eye is “fine” and that he’ll be available for Wednesday’s home game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that Davis had his eye examined by an ophthalmologist Monday, with Davis saying he was cleared to play.
“Nothing happens next,” Davis said, with his left eye notably red. “I go about my days like I would any other day. There’s nothing I need to do. The next step is getting some more sleep and getting ready for [Wednesday].”
Davis’ status for the last couple of days was uncertain after he was ruled out early in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s home win over the Toronto Raptors because of an eye injury he suffered while blocking Raptors center Jakob Poeltl midway through the third.
Poeltl hit Davis in the eye while Davis was blocking his dunk.
Davis immediately fell to the floor and was writhing in pain before team doctors checked on him. He immediately went to the locker room and didn’t return to the Lakers’ bench for the remainder of the game.
The All-Star big man suffered a corneal abrasion to his left eye on March 16 last season but played in the Lakers’ next game.
He also suffered a left eye injury on April 7, which forced him to miss one game.
Despite the hits to the face and eye, Davis is adamant about not wearing protective eyewear/goggles.
“I just don’t want to, to be honest,” he said. “Obviously, the doctors said I didn’t have to. If it gets to that point where my eye doctor tells me that I need to wear them, then of course I will. But I’ve been cleared to go out and play without them.”