Davis could miss Lakers' 1st game back after poke in eye

Re-opening night is fast approaching, and Anthony Davis’ status is uncertain.

Davis, who left Los Angeles Lakers’ second scrimm after getting poked in eye and didn’t play in team’s exhibition finale at Walt Disney World, didn’t practice on Tuesday. All-Star forward is still being listed as day-to-day.

“re is some concern that he could potentially t play Thursday, but we’re hopeful that he does and we’ll see how that plays out,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “He’s going to continue to be evaluated each day.”

Lakers play Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night, when NBA season resumes with start of seeding games. Lakers-Clippers matchup is second game of a reopening-night doubleheader, preceded by New Orleans facing Utah.

Davis isn’t only big name waiting for word on his availability.

New Orleans rookie Zion Williamson is back with team and out of quarantine following an extended absence from NBA’s bubble to deal with a family matter — but it remains unclear if he’ll see time against Jazz.

KING’S CHAIR

LeBron James of Los Angeles Lakers likes to ice just about everything after practices, and having those bags strapped all over his legs leaves him a bit immobile.

So when he emerged for his session with reporters Tuesday, he immediately realized chair that was set up for him — akin to a bar stool — wouldn’t work with his icing regimen. He needed something lower to ground, and a nearby chair that was in hotel walkway was moved over.

And it didn’t take long to tice that chair that James — King James, as he’s kwn — would be occupying sort of looked like, well, a throne.

“Absolutely t,” James said. “It’s one of se hallway chairs that everybody sits in.”

By time Vogel — who spoke immediately after James — emerged to do his media session, bar stool was back. throne was longer needed.

HARDY TIME

San Antonio has been rotating assistants as acting head coaches during three scrimm games at Disney, and Tuesday was Will Hardy’s turn.

Hardy has been mentioned as a candidate for head coaching jobs in past, and interviewed for vacancy with New York Knicks that ultimately went to Tom Thibodeau.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich marveled Tuesday at Hardy’s rise from an internship with team.

“We’ve seen that process a lot over last 25 years,” Popovich said. “He fits mold perfectly. He started at ground and worked his way up ... and here he is. It’s t a surprise. It’s always a process and he’s been brilliant at it.”

Spurs, under Hardy, beat Indiana 118-111 on Tuesday.

“It was great," Hardy said. “We're doing it as a group, as always. ... Obviously, it's a step up from summer league, which has been my experience before this. But I'm just happy that guys did a good job with game plan. It takes all of us to get it done."

INTENSE SCRIMM

Don’t tell Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins that scrimms don’t matter.

Grizzlies were leading Miami Heat by 23 points in third quarter on Tuesday in scrimm finale for both teams, and Jenkins didn’t like that a foul wasn’t called on a play where Grizzlies were attacking. So he let referee Marc Davis kw his displeasure, and Davis promptly rewarded him with a technical foul.

“That’s a tech?” Jenkins asked, somewhat incredulously.

It was. Didn’t matter. Memphis still beat Miami 128-110 to end its tune-up schedule.

OLADIPO'S DECISION

Decision time looms for Indiana’s Victor Oladipo.

He played in all three of Indiana’s scrimms at Disney, after initially saying injury concerns would keep him out of restarted season. Oladipo shot 34% in three games, averaging 11.3 points and six rebounds.

Pacers coach Nate McMillan said he will meet with all his players individually, Oladipo included, in coming days.

Oladipo has t indicated if he’s decided yet about playing in games that count at Disney. Indiana opens its seeding-game schedule, resumption of regular season, on Saturday against Philadelphia.

SOMETHING TO WATCH

Florida is in throes of a surge in coronavirus infections, and w tropical wear — always a threat at this time of year — could be next problem.

National Hurricane Center is tracking a system that is expected to become a tropical storm. Most of state of Florida, including Orlando area, is in what’s commonly called cone of concern. That means forecasters believe system will affect those areas in coming days.

Very early forecasts suggest system could reach Florida’s mainland this weekend, with strong wind and rain likely. Forecasters — again, with a large margin of error — are saying worst of wear would affect Orlando area on Sunday.

For w, system is t forecast to become a hurricane. A tropical storm carries winds between 39 and 73 mph. threshold for hurricane status starts at 74 mph.

OFF DAY

re are games Wednesday, with six-day scrimm season ending. reopening-night twinbill is on tap Thursday night, with both games set to be televised nationally.

Im credits: AP