LOS ANGELES — During a game on Sunday night, Anthony Davis exited the locker room of the Los Angeles Lakers in the third quarter after sustaining an injury to his face while attempting to block a dunk by Toronto’s Jakob Poeltl.

In a remarkable display of athleticism, Davis executed a one-handed block against Poeltl’s dunk attempt, but inadvertently caught the full force of Poeltl’s off hand, striking him directly in the face and eyes.

Despite the home crowd erupting in cheers, Davis fell to the floor in visible discomfort, rocking back and forth with his hands covering his face. He remained down for nearly a minute before managing to get up and make his way to the Lakers’ locker room.

Up until his injury, Davis had been having an exceptional start to the season, generating buzz as a potential MVP candidate. He had accumulated 22 points, four rebounds, and two blocks in the game against the Raptors before the setback.

Before this incident, Davis was leading the league in scoring with an impressive average of 32.4 points per game, alongside 11.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists. His performance this season already included six games where he scored 30 points or more.

Davis had sat out a game against Memphis the previous Wednesday due to a bruised left heel. Over the years, he has dealt with a number of injuries, though he managed to play in a career-best 76 games last season, showcasing resilience as he continues to navigate his health challenges.