Lakers Give Injury Update on Key Starter Ahead of Game 4

The Los Angeles Lakers are getting ready for Game 4 of the series of the Phoenix Suns. The team received some news on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope following his injury in the previous game on Thursday.

According to recent reports, KCP’s MRI came negative. Fans were worried about his left quad.

The results showed that there is no tear of the quad. However, we don’t know much about Caldwell-Pope’s status for the upcoming game at Staples Center. If KCP doesn’t play Vogel will choose from his other veterans. Wes Matthews, Alex Caruso, or Talen Horton-Tucker will step in as a replacement for KCP.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's bruised left quad showed slight improvement since Gm 3 and an MRI administered Friday revealed no tear, sources told ESPN. The Lakers guard will see how he responds to rest and treatment come Saturday and his status will be determined for Sunday's Gm 4

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 28, 2021

LA Lakers may not have KCP in the floor in Game 4

Caldwell-Pope left the game in the third quarter after the defensive play against Phoenix guard Devin Booker. He tried to gut through the injury but had to go to the locker room.

“I immediately felt pain when he bumped me, and it hyperextended,” Caldwell-Pope told reporters after the win. “And it was painful enough where I couldn’t finish the game.”

KCP’s wife, McKenzie talked about the injury and wrote that her husband is okay. She thanked everyone for their great wishes.

McKenzie Caldwell-Pope says that KCP is okay ?? pic.twitter.com/apbrxsagS5

— zain fahimullah (@zain_gogh) May 28, 2021

KCP stepped up for the Lakers inside the Orlando bubble. His performance in the offseason isn’t that great. He is averaging 4.0 points on 22.2% shooting. KCP also averages 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game with LA.

Lakers head coach Frank Vogel talked about Caldwell-Pope’s role with the team.

“His primary role is to defend and to run the floor and provide that spacing when double-teams come, and some nights there’s going to be a lot of shots, some nights there’s not,” Vogel said. “But we just want him to remain confident, which he does.”

Lakers big man Anthony Davis sustained an injury in Game 3, too. But, he feels great now.

“It’s the playoffs. It’s rare that I’m going to come out of a game. Landed awkwardly, tried not to fall on [Devin Booker]. Guess I might have hyperextended it a little bit,” Davis told reporters after the game. “Just keeping it warm, keeping it loose and wanted to keep going. It felt fine throughout the rest of the game. Really didn’t have any problems with it. … It was all full of adrenaline, so we’ll see how I feel tomorrow. Get some treatment and get some treatment Saturday and be ready to go Sunday.”