Even though the Lakers own a 3-2 series lead against the Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals, there was uncertainty regarding Anthony Davis’ Game 6 status. Davis apparently avoided a concussion after being elbowed in the face by Golden State’s Kevon Looney on Wednesday evening.
Let’s break down the most up-to-date information on the eight-time NBA All-Star, as well as how his injury situation has impacted the betting market. Click on any of the odds below to place a wager.
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The Latest On Anthony Davis For Game 6
Following the Lakers’ Game 5 loss, the 6-foot-10 big man exited the arena in a wheelchair. An initial diagnosis — via senior NBA insider Chris Haynes — stipulated that his symptoms didn’t stem from a concussion. Less than 12 hours later, Haynes doubled down on this notion, stating that Davis won’t miss any action after all.
Immediately after Haynes tweeted this news, the betting market reacted accordingly. L.A. is currently 2.5-point home favorites in Game 6, which was the opening spread, at all nationwide online betting sites. Once Thursday’s presser rolled around, Lakers coach Darvin Ham all but confirmed that Davis would suit up on Friday, noting that he avoided concussion protocol.
For further betting context, Los Angeles closed -3.5 and -2, respectively, in Games 3 and 4. The latter contest was certainly a “bounce-back” situation for Steph Curry & Co. However, Davis assisted Lakers bettors in cashing their tickets for both of these matchups, including a backdoor cover on Monday.
Moreover, the aforementioned spread shift countered slight movement towards the Warriors. That’s because ESPN’s Brian Windhorst first noted that no matter how Davis is feeling, Los Angeles’ medical staff must follow a preset list of return-to-play guidelines.
“If he goes into protocol today, Game 6, almost 100 percent he will not be able to play no matter what,” Windhorst said on “Get Up.” “Not up to him, not up to anything, and even Game 7, because of the return-to-play protocols, I would say, in my experience, very unlikely if he enters concussion protocol.”
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How Golden State Fended Off Elimination
Davis has consistently deterred the Warriors’ offense when he’s been freed up to protect the rim. Nevertheless, Steve Kerr adjusted in Game 5, allowing Golden State to manufacture some separation in the second quarter — well before Davis exited for good.
As Davis switched on ball screens while sticking to Curry, the Warriors’ action was positioned to essentially drag him out of the play. That allowed Golden State to attack the Lakers’ defense four-on-four — minus Davis.
Jared Vanderbilt, Davis’ frontcourt mate, is a rim protector in his own right, yet he can’t replicate Davis’ athleticism. The 11-year veteran is averaging an astounding 3.4 blocks per game in the postseason for a reason.
Whether or not the Warriors can replicate these results will go a long way in determining if this series gets extended to a Game 7.
Below are the updated odds for Friday’s tilt. Regarding the series price, the best odds on L.A. to win one of the next two contests is -200. As for Golden State, +188 represents the most “valuable” figure that bettors will find at legal operators.
Lakers vs. Warriors: Game 6 Odds
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