The injury bug has once again bitten the defending champions.
Lakers star forward Anthony Davis is unlikely to play in Game 5 of Los Angeles' first-round series against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night, after an MRI on Monday confirmed that he suffered a left groin strain in the team's Game 4 loss at Staples Center on Sunday.
Although Davis is listed as day-to-day, his absence in Game 5 -- with the series tied at two games apiece -- would undoubtedly be felt. And if Davis' injury doesn't heal in a timely manner, consider the Lakers' hopes of repeating as champions squashed, according to USA Today reporter Mark Medina.
"I'd be very surprised if he plays tonight," Medina told the Reiter Than You show on Tuesday. "When LeBron James strained his left groin in his first season with the Lakers, he wound up missing 27 combined games. So, this is a serious injury, no joke. I know things with the playoffs, they can change. But I just can't see [Davis] suiting up tonight, because it's a pretty big deal... I wouldn't discount the Lakers' ability to win the series, because LeBron James is LeBron James. And I know that they had a really ugly third quarter when Anthony Davis was out, but they rebounded really well in the fourth.
"And there is a template this season that, when LeBron was on the floor and AD was out, there were some initial struggles -- they started out 1-4 -- but then they won six of their next seven. And so, I do trust that LeBron will elevate his game and can elevate those around him. That's what makes him a great player. But, if they're without Anthony Davis for the rest of the playoffs, I don't see the Lakers winning the championship. It's one thing to get out of the first round, even against a good Suns team. But to ask LeBron -- I know he's done amazing things -- to almost singlehandedly carry the team through the championship without a star teammate? I just don't see it."
Davis was a dominant force in Games 2 and 3, as he averaged 34 points with 10.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 blocks in the Lakers' pair of wins. As for Game 4, Davis was ineffective -- he scored just six points on 2-of-9 shooting with four rebounds in 19 minutes.
Game 5 of the best-of-seven series will take place on Tuesday night at Phoenix Suns Arena, with tipoff scheduled for 10 p.m. ET. According to FiveThirtyEight's projections, the Lakers have a 51-percent chance of advancing to the West's semifinal round.
The entire NBA conversation between Medina and Reiter can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Reiter Than You show on Twitter @sportsreiter and @CBSSportsRadio, and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin