MVP candidate Anthony Davis won’t play in Monday nightap game against the due to a right elbow strain, New Orleans announced shortly before the team’s shootaround Monday.
Davis was averaging 27.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and a league-leading 3.75 blocks for the 4-1 Pelicans.
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “We prepare like they’re all going to play. But if a guy like Anthony Davis does not play, he’s an MVP candidate. He’s a guy that impacts the game. Why he’s a special player is he impacts the game at such a high level on both ends of the floor, not just offense. His rebounding, his shot blocking, his ability to get steals with his length, if he’s not able to play, obviously, not many people have another Anthony Davis on their roster.”
His absence will likely shift power forward Julius Randle into the starting lineup.
“You always worry if a guy like Anthony does not play, you don’t want to see a letdown,” Malone added. “‘Oh, he’s not playing.’ Well look what happened last game. Utah went down there and beat them bad because Davis didn’t play. Well, we’re not Utah. We have to worry about what we can control regardless of who’s playing for them.”
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