Lakers star Anthony Davis starts, leaves Game 6

Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis, who is dealing with a groin injury, started Thursday night’s Game 6 against the visiting Phoenix Suns but left the game after playing just five minutes and did not return.

He didn’t score and recorded one rebound and an assist before being ruled out by the team.

Davis went through pregame drills without a setback and was listed as a starter for Los Angeles’ must-win, first-round game against the Suns.

Phoenix leads the Western Conference series 3-2 after routing the Lakers 115-85 on Tuesday. Davis sat out that contest due to the injury that caused him to exit early in the second quarter of Game 4.

Davis scored 34 points in both games Los Angeles has won in the series. He has 19 points on 7-of-25 shooting the rest of the series.

Davis is averaging 21.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the series.

Suns star Chris Paul (shoulder) also was cleared to play. Paul exited Game 5 early after injuring his right shoulder for the second time in the series.

Paul is averaging just 9.4 points and 6.8 assists in the series.

Phoenix is trying to win a playoff series for the first time since 2010.

Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (knee), who missed Game 4 and departed Game 5 early, also was cleared to play. – Rappler.com