Life wasn’t supposed to get any worse for the New Orleans Pelicans.
But it just did.
Though the Pelicans nabbed their first victory on Tuesday night, a 120-105 drubbing of the Dallas Mavericks, the win came at a cost…before it was even a win.
Anthony Davis, the Pelicans’ lifeline, sat out the second half with what the team called a hip injury. Afterward, per ESPN.com’s J.A. Adande, head coach Alvin Gentry indicated the Pelicans had no idea how serious Davis’ latest brush with misfortune was:
Pelicans forward Anthony Davis sat out the second half of Tuesday’s 120-105 win over the Dallas Mavericks with what the team called a bruised right hip.
Team officials said X-rays on the All-Star forward’s hip were negative, but they were holding him out as a precaution. Davis helped the Pelicans build an 18-point halftime lead that never dipped below 14 points en route to the team’s first win of the season.
Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said Davis would undergo further testing to determine the exact nature of the injury.
“I just know he had some problems,” Gentry said. “I don’t know if it’s a groin or a hamstring. We’ll have to wait and see. Nothing surprises us here.”
Sources did indicate to Adande that team officials didn’t believe the injury was serious. But, when it comes to Anthony Davis, you never know.
While he’s always stopped short of suffering a season-crippling injury, Davis is no stranger to the physically impaired shelf. He has missed at least 14 games through each of his first three seasons, and knowing how valuable he is to the Pelicans organization, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them take extra precautionary measures now.
At the same time, it’s not like the team can survive without him. Omer Asik only just returned to action; Jrue Holiday is still on a minutes cap; and Norris Cole, Tyreke Evans and Quincy Pondexter all remain unfit for duty. The Pelicans are having a hard enough time as it is without those guys. They’re 1-6, their playoff hopes fading fast.
Losing Anthony Davis for any amount of time, even if just for Wednesday night’s matchup with the Atlanta Hawks, will be devastating. The only hope New Orleans has of reentering the postseason picture lies with Davis and his ability to keep them afloat until reinforcements arrive.
Now, instead of banking on Anthony Davis to carry them, the Pelicans may be forced to carry on without him. And even if he returns immediately, you have to wonder whether he’ll actually be fully healthy or just trying to play through pain and discomfort because the hand fate has dealt New Orleans is leaving him with no other choice.
