Davis leaves Lakers loss with flu-like symptoms

NBA adds Podoloff Trophy for best team record

Nets Simmons hopeful for Fri. return vs. Hawks

Harden 4-for-19 in return as 76ers lose in 2OT

Nike officially terminates partnership with Irving

NBA prospect Victor Wembanyama shows versatility in Metro 92s loss

Sovereign wealth funds signal a new era in NBA ownership?

How the Cavaliers are having Evan Mobley follow the Giannis blueprint

NBA refs are cracking down on traveling -- whether teams like it or not

Protests, bizarre news conferences and yams: Inside two ridiculous weeks with Kyrie Irving and the Nets

Five things to watch this week: Hold or trade Anthony Davis?

Waiver wire pickups: Look to Malik Monk, Jaylen Nowell

Anthony Davis leaves Lakers loss with flu-like symptoms

Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.

CLEVELAND --Los Angeles Lakersstar big manAnthony Davisexited in the first half of Tuesday nights116-102 lossto theCavalierswith flu-like symptoms and did not return.

It is a non-COVID-19 illness, according to the team. Davis had a fever in the afternoon leading up to tipoff. After he was pulled from the game, the Lakers training staff administered fluids and medications to Davis.

Lakers coach Darvin Ham said after the game that Davis was the only player on the team currently suffering from an illness.

It progressively got worse, Ham said of Davis sickness. His temperature went over a 100, I believe it was 101 and some change. He said he was going to try and give it a go, which he did. But he just felt too weak, just too drained -- dehydrated a little bit. But its that time of the season, in terms of wintertime, weather change, change of climate -- coming from L.A. going to these different places.

Davis joined the team on its flight to Toronto on Tuesday night, and his status for L.A.s second leg of the back-to-back against theRaptorswill be decided based on how he is feeling on Wednesday afternoon, Ham said. The Lakers are now 2-1 on their six-game road trip with games against Toronto, thePhiladelphia 76ersand theDetroit Pistonsremaining.

Davis totaled just one point, going 1-for-3 from the free throw line, with three rebounds and two assists in eight minutes Tuesday.

Despite his absence, the Lakers -- led byLeBron James21 points and season-high 17 rebounds -- made a game of it. The score was tied at 92 with 8 minutes, 32 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter before the Cavs blew it open with a 21-6 run over the next 5 minutes, 10 seconds. Cleveland won the season series 2-0, the first time that has happened to a James team in the nine years he has played against the Cavs.

Donovan Mitchellscored 17 of his 43 points in the fourth and was treated to MVP chants from the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse crowd -- a chant normally reserved for James all those years.

He did a great job of penetrating our gaps and making some tough shots all night and got into a real good comfort, James said of Mitchell. But, hes a special kid.

Davis came into the night on a tear, averaging 35.3 points on 64.8% shooting from the field, 45.5% from 3 and 88% from the foul line with 15.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in his past nine games.

He was named the NBAs Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday, having helped L.A. to a three-game winning streak coming into the Cavs game.

Next man up, James said when asked how the Lakers (10-13) can withstand missing Davis. But thats a tall task. Figuratively and literally for what AD has been doing for us over the last few weeks.

Thomas Bryantfilled in Davis minutes Tuesday with a season-high 19 points and nine rebounds off the bench.Russell WestbrookandDennis Schroderscored 16 points apiece. Beyond Mitchells brilliance, L.A. was done in by 16 turnovers compared to just eight for the Cavs, and the Lakers shot 6-for-36 (16.7%) from 3 as a team.

My hats off to our guys, man. They competed their hearts out. Thats a huge blow, obviously, Ham said. It was a tough challenge, but our guys competed. Disappointed, but Im not upset. Our guys really competed.