NBA Playoffs: Winners and losers of the Conference Finals

Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers Anthony Davis (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

Loser: Anthony Davis’ ankle

After falling awkwardly on Paul Millsap’s foot in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, the injury bug might be biting Anthony Davis at the worst possible time.

He was listed as questionable heading into the Game 5 victory according to The New York Times’ Marc Stein but played through it, tallying 27 points and five rebounds but looking visibly slower than we’re accustomed to.

Maybe I was overreacting and looking for problems, knowing that he was injured. But Miami is a tougher defense on paper than Denver and can throw a lot more defensive bodies at him.

If AD’s ankle does persist, it could open up opportunities for a certain someone to assert themselves just as they did at the end of Game 5.