‘Assumption’ is Anthony Davis & Dorian Finney-Smith Will Play Against Clippers

The Los Angeles Lakers managed to escape with a 102-101 win against the Brooklyn Nets, though it shouldn’t have been that close even with Anthony Davis not active.

Davis was ruled out just before tipoff against the Nets because of foot soreness, an issue he’s been dealing with throughout the 2024-25 season. Dorian Finney-Smith was also ruled out for the second game in a row for personal reasons as he and his partner recently welcomed a baby boy into their family.

Brooklyn still struggled to score even with Davis not playing, but his absence was still felt in Los Angeles’ end. Offensively, the team really missed Davis’ ability to score close to the rim and punish opponents on the boards.

After the win, head coach JJ Redick said Davis was held out of caution and is expected to be fine on Sunday against the LA Clippers.

“My guess is yes,” Redick said. “He went through his foreplay and had some soreness in that foot. Out of an abundance of caution, we kept him out tonight.”

Redick also said he expected Finney-Smith to be back with the team on Sunday as well.

“My guess is he’ll be available Sunday night,” Redick added.

Against a team like the Nets who aren’t expected to be competitive the rest of the year, it made sense for Redick and the coaching staff to bench Davis to get him some much-needed rest. It’s a similar strategy the Lakers are following when it comes to LeBron James, who has managed to stay healthy so far this season.

Both Davis and Finney-Smith will be needed against the Clippers, who have been one of the best teams in the Western Conference. The Lakers and Clippers are tied for the lead in the standings, so their matchup on Sunday could have some big playoff implications.

The Lakers’ lack of big man depth was on full display against the Nets, so Davis’ return to the starting lineup should help mask that issue. However, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue has always played well planned against the Lakers, so it will be interesting to see how Redick and his staff fare later this weekend.

JJ Redick says the Lakers will return to two-big lineups with Anthony Davis in small doses

Despite the lack of true big men on the roster, JJ Redick said he would experiment with two-big lineups again with Anthony Davis and another center in small doses. Redick noted that the change comes amid the team’s recent defensive struggles and, most notably, opposing teams doing everything they can to pull Davis away from the paint.

Redick said they will still play small, but this represents a big change in his overall philosophy.

Do you have subscribe to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to see player interviews, exclusive event coverage, attend live shows and more!