The invention relates to the technical field of display, and discloses a lateral entering type backlight module and a display device. The lateral entering type backlight module comprises a back plate, a light guide plate, a radiating plate, a light source and a heat absorbing structure, wherein the light guide plate and the radiating plate are installed on the back plate, the light source is installed on the radiating plate, and the heat absorbing structure surrounds the light emitting face of the light source. The heat absorbing structure is provided with a light passing opening allowing light emitted by the light source to pass therein on a light path between the light emitting face of the light source and the light entering face of the light guide plate. According to the lateral entering type backlight module, due to the fact that the heat absorbing structure surrounding the light emitting face of the light source can absorb a large amount of heat emitted by the light emitting face of the light source, a large amount of heat produced by the light source cannot reach the light guide plate, influences caused by the heat produced by the light source on the light guide plate can be reduced, and the phenomenon that the light guide plate in the lateral entering type backlight module is likely to be heated to summon up or wrinkle is avoided.