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Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis suffered a shoulder injury in Monday's Game 5 loss to Denver but was able to complete the game and logged 40 minutes. Davis was hurt late in the third quarter when he took a blow from behind to his left shoulder area by Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr.. He sat out the final four minutes of the quarter before playing the entire fourth as the Lakers desperately tried to remain alive in the series. Davis had another strong outing with 17 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. The nine-time All-Star will be massively disappointed with the early playoff exit, but Davis had a lot of personal success in 2023-24. He played in a career-high 76 regular-season contests, setting his new record with 12.6 rebounds and averaging 24.7 points with 3.5 assists and 2.3 blocks.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James refused to commit himself to the team for next season after suffering the earliest playoff exit of his career at the hands of the Denver Nuggets on Monday. "I'm not going to answer that," James said when asked if he considered whether Monday's game could be his last with the Lakers. James, who went out in the first round for only the second time in his 21-year-career, also said he would eventually sit down with his agent, Rich Paul, and his family to evaluate "what's best for my career." The NBA's all-time leading scorer has a player option for next season worth $51.4 million. He has until June 29 to opt into the final year of his contract or become an unrestricted free agent. Despite turning 39 in December, James continued to post strong numbers in 2023-24, averaging 25.7 points with 7.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.3 steals.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) has been upgraded to questionable ahead of Monday's Game 5 against Denver. He's been out since Feb. 1 with a mid-foot sprain. After missing the start of the season, Vanderbilt featured in only 29 regular-season contests, averaging 5.2 points and 4.8 rebounds across 20.0 minutes. He'll be a good addition to the rotation if he plays on Monday, although it's unlikely Vanderbilt will be ready to carry a full workload. The Lakers didn't use Christian Wood at all in Game 4 after he was cleared to return to the lineup after a lengthy absence.
Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (wrist) was questionable heading into Saturday's matchup with the Nuggets. However, he was available. Not only that, but the 31-year-old had a massive 25-point, 23-rebound double-double with six assists and one block. AD has looked good during the series with Denver, averaging 30.5 points, 15.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks. The Lakers managed to stave off elimination, meaning Davis will have another chance to make a difference for DFS managers in Game 5 on Monday night.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (ankle) scored a team-high 30 points in Saturday's win over the Nuggets. He added five rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block. With the Lakers facing elimination, James led his team to a much-needed win in Game 4. Granted, it will be tough for Los Angeles to take the series. But James, averaging 27.3 points, 8.3 assists, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.0 steals in the conference quarterfinals, can't take any of the blame. Game 5 is on Monday night, and DFS managers will likely see James on the injury report because of his ankle injury. However, he should be out there and deserves consideration for all DFS contests.