National Basketball Association

Pelicans' Davis leaves with chest injury vs. Cavs

Published Dec. 12, 2014 10:08 p.m. ET

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New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis was sidelined by a troubling chest injury that made it appear "as if he couldn't breathe" in Friday night's game against Cleveland.

Davis played only seven minutes, scoring eight points and grabbing one rebound, before leaving the game with 5:30 left in the first quarter, complaining of pain in his chest after a free throw by Kevin Love. Team officials could not immediately specify how or when the injury occurred, but Pelicans spokesman Matt Ryan called the injury a chest contusion from an apparent collision with another player's elbow.

Yahoo Sports reported early Saturday that Davis was cleared, and it's up to him on whether he will play the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.

"I just know when he was on the bench he was wincing as if he couldn't breathe, so I was hesitant to put him back in the game," Pelicans coach Monty Williams said. "We watched him for a while and he took himself out. That's when I knew he didn't feel right."

Davis entered the game averaging 25.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks. Before the game the 21-year-old was praised by LeBron James, his former teammate on the Olympic team.

"For him to be as young as he is, he plays above his age and that's part of the reason he can continue and probably be one of the greats to play this game," James told ESPN.

Despite Davis' absence, the Pelicans won the game 119-114.

The Pelicans play next on Sunday against Golden State.

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