“The Lakers’ Ed Davis #21 lays the ball up as the Grizzlies’ Jon Leuer #30 looks on during their NBA game at the Staples Center Friday, January 2, 2015. The Grizzlies beat the Lakers 109-106. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht/Los Angeles Daily News)”

The hit seemed so painful that the 18,997 at Staples Center let out a collective gasp. Just as Lakers forward Ed Davis went up for a potential game-tying layup, Memphis guard Tayshaun Prince delivered a foul that nearly struck his recently broken nose behind a plastic mask.

“The mask definitely protected me,” Davis said. “If it wasn’t for the mask, there’s no telling how bad it would’ve been.”

There’s also no telling on what might have happened had the officials called the play differently. The Lakers lost 109-106 to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday at Staples Center after Davis missed his second attempt of a pair foul shots with 2.8 seconds remaining. But what would have happened had official called Prince with a flagrant foul?

“I thought it was a flagrant until I just looked at it a second ago,” Lakers coach Byron Scott said. “I guess the interpretation is they got a piece of the ball. My thinking about that is they tell us if it’s anything above the shoulders, it’s a flagrant. The thing with flagrant fouls is it’s in the referees’ hands as far as what he interpreted to be a flagrant foul.”

After official review, it was determined otherwise. So on a night Davis posted a season-high 20 points, the Lakers forward looked confident and determined to force overtime. After making his first attempt, Davis’ second shot rimmed out. Lakers forward Nick Young fouled Memphis guard Courtney Lee, who sank both foul shots for a 109-106 cushion with .06 seconds left. Kobe Bryant then unleashed a three-pointer that hit back iron as time expired.

Did that leave Davis believing he was robbed?

“I’m not a ref. It was a hard foul,” Davis said. “It could’ve gone either way. It is what it is. The refs didn’t call it.”

Instead, Davis centered his frustration on his missed foul shot.

“It felt good.” Davis said. “I thought it was going in.”

It didn’t, souring an otherwise note worthy performance for several reasons.

Davis had suffered a broken nose in Tuesday’s win against the Denver after Nuggets guard Nate Robinson struck him late in the game. But Davis still participated in the past two practices without any restrictions. He then carried over that intensity in Friday’s game against Memphis by posting a season-high 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting, eight rebounds and two blocks.

“I didn’t think twice about it,” said Davis, who will wear a plastic mask for the next two weeks. “I was just going to go out there and play my game. I have a grind it out game anyway. I like to get dirty and get physical. I don’t look into being cute out there.”

But his performance still looked pretty.

Davis chased down Memphis forward Tony Allen for a forceful block. Despite his injury, Davis played aggressive perhaps to a fault by collecting four fouls. Kobe Bryant delivered several of pinpoint bounce pass to Davis for easy layups inside.

“I love it,” Bryant said. “He knows exactly where to go. His activity is phenomenal. Hes all over the place.”

So much that Davis has excelled both against Memphis and all season by overcoming his limited mid-range game with never-ending energy and limitless efficiency with close shots to the basket.

“Ed does exactly what he’s good at it,” Scott said. “He knows exactly who he is. He doesn’t try to hit 18-foot jump shots. He tries to get to the basket and tries to finish. He does a great job of being who he is and being productive. Tonight was probably his best game.”

Except for one thing, of course. Missing a key free throw that could have proven the difference in the game. But Davis rightfully pointed out that the Lakers’ defensive deficiencies played a bigger factor in the loss than his missed foul shot.

“I’ve got to get back in the gym tomorrow,” Davis said. “I’ll get some more looks so when that situation comes up again, I’ll be ready.”

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Follow L.A. Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com