Can Anthony Davis play in Game 6 after head injury? Here’s how NBA’s concussion policy works

Lakers forward Anthony Davis got knocked in the head with an elbow during Game 5 against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. TNT’s Chris Haynes reported after Golden State’s 121- 106 win over the Lakers that Davis “appears to have avoided a concussion.” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said Thursday that Davis isn’t showing signs of a concussion and the Lakers listed Davis as probable for Game 6 on Friday night. “If a player undergoes a concussion evaluation and is not diagnosed with a concussion, the team’s medical staff must continue to monitor the player, and the player must undergo at least another concussion evaluation by the team’s medical staff prior to the team’s next game or practice or approximately 24 hours after the initial concussion evaluation. If the player subsequently develops any signs or symptoms of a concussion, the player must immediately be removed from participation and undergo an additional concussion evaluation.” Lakers Plaschke: Anthony Davis head injury could lead to Lakers’ knockout This is what the Lakers feared, their fans dreaded and the Golden State Warriors needed. After a brief period of rest after injury, the player can be encouraged, under the direction of a team physician, to become gradually and progressively more active, so long as the activity level does not bring on or worsen the player’s symptoms.” That timeline would seem to eliminate the possibility of Davis being allowed to take part in Game 6 and likely would put his status for a possible Game 7 at risk as well, as there are multiple steps of increasing exertion a player must complete with no set timeline in which they are supposed to take place.