Pelicans’ Anthony Davis sprains ankle in Beijing pre-season game

LOS ANGELES, USA – New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis sprained his right ankle in a pre-season game in Beijing on Wednesday, October 12 and could reportedly miss the team’s NBA regular season opener.

Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry confirmed after the contest, a 116-114 victory for the Houston Rockets, that Davis was hurt.

“I know it’s an ankle sprain,” Gentry told reporters in China. “Not sure what grade it is. I haven’t talked to the trainers yet.”

Davis was injured when he stepped on the foot of Rockets center Nene with 6:37 left to play in the first quarter of the contest.

The 23-year-old Davis declined to comment and wore a boot on his injured foot as he departed the arena.

It’s another blow for the top pick in the 2012 draft, who had season-ending surgery in March to repair a stress reaction problem in his left knee cap and missed the final 21 games of the regular season as well as a chance to play in the Rio Olympics.

Davis also suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder last season that did not require surgery. In 61 games last season he averaged 24.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2 blocks.

In a bid to ensure their star’s fitness, the Pelicans had been monitoring his workload during training camp and pre-season games, hoping he’d be ready to open the season on October 26 against the Denver Nuggets. – Rappler.com