Reports: Pelicans' Davis has bruised shoulder

Anthony Davis' shoulder injury apparently isn't serious, but the status of the New Orleans Pelicans forward for the All-Star Game on Sunday is uncertain. After getting hurt at the end of the first half Thursday in the Pelicans' 131-122 win over the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder, Davis went for an MRI exam that revealed a muscle contusion, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune and ESPN.

Per ESPN, Davis still will travel to Charlotte, N.C., site of the All-Star Game on Sunday. He is scheduled to be a part of Team LeBron in the midseason exhibition. The injury occurred on a collision with Thunder forward Nerlens Noel.

Davis subsequently left the arena before the game ended, which upset Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry. The All-Star and the team already were on shaky terms after Davis requested a trade on Jan. 29, then didn't get dealt before the NBA's Feb. 7 trade deadline. Gentry, replying to a question about Davis' early departure, said he was "happy for the guys that played the game and we won. ...

"I'm happy for all of them. Because to tell you the truth, this whole thing has been a dumpster fire. ... We want guys to be professional and we want them to do this, but it's hard for guys to go through what they've been through. And to be able to come out and beat a team of that quality, I'm happy for all the guys. I just thought they did a great job." Davis was sidelined due to a finger injury at the time his agent declared that the Kentucky product wanted to be traded. He wound up missing consecutive games, including some while healthy ahead of the trade deadline as the Pelicans waited to see if they would make a move.

The 25-year-old returned to score 32 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 8, but he was held out of the fourth quarter of a close game. In four games since his return to action, he is averaging 15.8 points and 8.8 rebounds in 24.8 minutes per game, all well below his season averages of 28.1 points, 12.9 rebounds and 36 minutes. Davis had 14 points and four boards in 16 minutes before exiting Thursday.

--Field Level Media