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Dave McMenamin, ESPN Staff Writer
SAN FRANCISCO — Anthony Davis exited the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 121-106 Game 5 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night midway through the fourth quarter and did not return after being inadvertently struck in the side of the head by Golden State’s Kevon Looney.
Davis was initially evaluated on the Lakers’ bench by athletic trainer Jon Ishop before retreating to the back of the arena for further medical attention.
Davis was placed in a wheelchair and carted to a training room after feeling “woozy,” a source told ESPN. However, Davis was able to leave the arena at the end of the night walking to the team bus without any assistance.
There was no mention of a concussion after an initial diagnosis of Davis, a source close to the Lakers center told ESPN.
“Obviously everyone saw he took a shot to the head, but we just checked on him,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said after the game. “He seems to be doing really good already. That’s just where he’s at. That’s the status of it right now.”
Davis’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, as well as his parents and Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka visited the training room after the game to check on the Lakers star.
While both players positioned themselves in the lane for a potential rebound of a D’Angelo Russell drive to the basket, Looney’s left elbow made contact with the right side of Davis’ face, near his temple.
As Russell’s layup fell through the net with 7:43 remaining in the fourth quarter to cut the Warriors’ lead to 99-88, Davis immediately bent over in pain, with his hands covering his head. Ham subbed Rui Hachimura in for Davis on the ensuing dead ball with 7:34 left in the game.