Lakers star center Anthony Davis won’t miss any time due to his latest eye injury, he said after practice on Tuesday.
“The eye is fine,” he said.
Davis was stabbed in the left eye in the third quarter on Sunday night victory over Toronto while blocking Jakob Poeltl’s dunk attempt. Davis fell to the field in significant pain and left the game.
“Then nothing happens,” said Davis, who missed a game last week because of a sore heel, an injury the Lakers continue to monitor. “I live my days like I would any other day. I don’t have to do anything. The next step is to get some sleep and get ready for tomorrow.”
There was visible redness in the center of his eye, but Davis said doctors cleared him. And before the question could even be asked, he said he wouldn’t wear goggles.
“I don’t want to,” he said. “…I was wearing goggles. For three years, when I was younger. I just don’t want it, to be honest. Of course the doctors said that wasn’t necessary. Now, if it gets to the point where the doctor tells me I have to wear them… if it gets to the point where my ophthalmologist tells me I have to wear them, then of course I will. But I have been given permission to play without them.”
Davis said he practiced wearing goggles on Tuesday. D’Angelo Russell did not practice Wednesday due to an illness ahead of the team’s hosting of Memphis.
Without Davis, the Lakers leaned on backup center Jaxson Hayes, who led them with a plus-21 rating. He finished with 12 points and six rebounds in the 123–103 comeback win over the Raptors.
“Both sides of the ball, just doing their job, putting pressure on the rim offensively, screening and then also rebounding offensively, gave us a few extra possessions,” the coach said. JJ Redick said of Hayes. “And then he’s had back-to-back defensive games that have been outstanding.”
The Lakers will have to lean on Hayes as Redick announced that veteran Christian Wood will miss at least the next four weeks after experiencing soreness in his left knee. Wood didn’t play again after the All-Star break last season due to a knee injury, had further knee surgery this summer and suffered a setback during his slow rise to the game. He hasn’t played an NBA game since Feb. 22.
Still, Redick said the Lakers are comfortable with the depth of their frontcourt.
“We have a lot of confidence in Jaxson. And Christian really picked up our language, terminology and system,” Redick said. “So we know that AD may not play 81 games. So have faith in both guys.