Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis lasted just five minutes before leaving in the first quarter of Thursday night's Game 6 loss to the visiting Phoenix Suns because of a strained left groin.
Davis suffered the injury in Game 4 of the first-round series and sat out Game 5.
He did not do anything in Game 6 to make the groin injury more severe than it already was, sources told ESPN's Dave McMenamin, adding that Davis had the "same feeling" he did going into the game and that he just wasn't right.
He had been a game-time decision to play but was in the starting lineup after being cleared by the medical staff.
"Just wanted to be out there for the team in a situation of win or go home," Davis said after the game. "Obviously didn't want to just lay down and not be able to do what I can. It never really felt good, but like I said, it was the competitive nature in me to want to go out and help the team as best as I could. My body did not agree. The team fought, made runs, left it all out on the floor tonight and we will get ready for next year. We will get ready to have a full offseason.
"Everyone heal up, especially the guys who have been hurt a lot this year. Heal your bodies and get ready for next season. That is all we can do. That is what I am going to do. Let the body heal and get right back to it."
Davis appeared to be in pain after contesting a Devin Booker attempt in the first quarter, then came out of the game on the next possession and sat on the floor by the Lakers' bench with his head down. Having played just five minutes, he went back to the locker room. He later returned to the bench.
Davis finished with zero points, one rebound and one assist as the seventh-seeded Lakers were eliminated after the 113-100 defeat. They became just the sixth defending champion in league history to lose in the first round of the playoffs the following year.
Lakers guard Alex Caruso exited Thursday night's game with a left ankle strain and was later ruled out.
Davis averaged 34 points and 10.5 rebounds in L.A.'s two wins in the series.
With L.A. needing a win to extend its season, coach Frank Vogel was asked before the game whether he would allow Davis and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (who has been dealing with a sore knee) a longer leash to push through their injuries than he normally would.
"I mean, it's just a feel thing," Vogel said. "We'll be communicating with the medical staff throughout, and obviously the coaching staff and I will be evaluating and measuring how well those guys are moving if they're in there. ... So we'll look at the first half, each minute, each play, and evaluate that throughout the night."
ESPN's Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.