NBA Injury Report Week 18: Lonzo Ball Injury, Anthony Davis return and more

The 18/19 NBA regular season is quickly approaching the final stretch. The window to make trades has now passed and after a successful All-Star Event in North Carolina, players around the league will now turn their attention towards the final few months of the season.

While the 2019 All-Star Weekend provided a much-needed break for teams around the NBA, a number of players remain on the sidelines. So, as NBA teams look to make a final push to make the 2019 playoffs, here are the latest injury updates regarding the leagues' top stars.

Aron Baynes - Left Foot Contusion - 1-2 Weeks

Just weeks after returning from a left-hand injury that kept him out for nearly two months, Aron Baynes sustained an injury to his left foot. The injury has meant that Baynes has yet to play this month, although the Australian veteran is expected to return to action next week.

Tony Parker - Back Injury - This Week

Tony Parker has missed the Charlotte Hornets last four games with a back injury. Nevertheless, the Hornets back up point guard has now recovered from the injury, and Parker is expected to feature against the Washington Wizards on Friday.

Lonzo Ball - Ankle Sprain - Late February/Early March

Lonzo Ball suffered an ankle sprain in the Lakers’ January 19th game in Houston, and the team has struggled in his absence. Despite this, The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Ball has begun running on an underwater treadmill, and the 21-year-old's recovery is going as planned. Based on the initial time schedule given by the Lakers, Ball is likely to return at the beginning of March.

Anthony Davis - Left Shoulder - Day to Day

In the final game before the All-Star break, Anthony Davis suffered an injury to his left shoulder during the New Orleans Pelicans win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The injury meant that Davis was a doubtful, heading into the All-Star game, and despite featuring in North Carolina, the 25-year-old played a total of just five minutes.

Nevertheless, it is believed that Davis' limited minutes were due to precaution rather than a new injury, and Davis is likely to return later this week.

Markieff Morris - Neck Injury - Day to Day

Markieff Morris will reportedly be announced as an Oklahoma City Thunder player in the next 48 hours, and the team's latest acquisition could be immediately available for selection. While Morris has been out since December with a neck injury, the 29-year-old's agent has stated that the veteran has now fully recovered, and Morris could feature for the Thunder as early as Friday.

Clint Capela - Thumb Injury - This week

After undergoing surgery to repair ligament damage in his thumb back in mid-January, Clint Capela has missed the Houston Rockets last 15 games. During the 24-year-old's absence, the Rockets have used Kenneth Faried as cover for Capela, although Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle is reporting that the center will soon return:

He was cleared to resume workouts several weeks ago. The Rockets expect him to practice with the team for the first time since the injury next week in Los Angeles.

Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni has also stated that he will assess Capela's condition in the teams upcoming training sessions before deciding if Capela will feature against the Los Angeles Lakers:

"He's doing everything without contact," D'Antoni said. "I guess those two practices will determine whether he will play the first game (after the break) or not."

Edited by Abhinav Munshi