In Lakers vs Warriors, D’Angelo Russell sustained an ankle injury leading him to leave the court.
The Los Angeles Lakers have commenced their 23-game expedition in a final bid to secure a playoff spot, or at the very least, a play-in berth.
With the Western Conference boasting an influx of formidable talent, the Lake Show has begun the second half of the season (despite being approximately 60 games in – a term often reiterated by NBA pundits) by squaring off against the reigning world champions, the Golden State Warriors.
Lakers get D'Angelo Russell injury update after exit vs. Warriors
#DAngeloRussell #losangeleslakershttps://t.co/hYlEo29e5A— The Sun (@LuffyRd5) February 24, 2023
In a resounding 124-111 victory, the Lakers may have demonstrated to the NBA universe that the Warriors’ dynasty has come to a close. This Lakers squad has potentially identified a higher-ranked team that they can consistently overcome with relative ease.
During the Lakers vs Warriors on Thursday, D’Angelo Russell sustained an ankle sprain in the first quarter, resulting in his absence for the remainder of the game. According to TNT’s Chris Haynes, x-ray results were negative, and an MRI was deemed unnecessary for further assessment of the injury.
Although Russell had only registered two points on 1-of-3 shooting from the field at the time of his departure, he had already garnered four rebounds and three assists in just nine minutes of play.
Despite starting the game, the responsibilities of the point guard position will now fall on Dennis Schroder, while LeBron James is likely to assume a greater ball-handling role.
Following his acquisition from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a three-team trade on February 9th, Russell had been averaging 17.9 points and 6.2 assists per game, while maintaining a 39% shooting percentage from beyond the arc, throughout the season.
In an attempt to reinforce the supporting cast surrounding superstar players LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers utilized the trade deadline to their advantage. Russell, who was initially drafted second overall by the Lakers in 2015, was a critical component of this initiative.
As of Thursday, the Lakers were positioned in 13th place in the Western Conference, trailing the 10th spot by a margin of three losses, the final berth to qualify for The Play-In Tournament.
D’Angelo Russell has participated in four games for the Lakers, including the recent Warriors matchup, following his transfer from the Minnesota Timberwolves before the trade deadline.
In his time with the Lakers, Russell had accumulated an average of 17.3 points per game, alongside 3.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists. Fans are no doubt eagerly waiting to watch Russell return to the courts and dominate the game again.
