The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets on April 2 despite starting point guard D’Angelo Russell sitting out the second half.
Lakers star D’Angelo Russell Is Down With An Injury
The Lakers have been performing too well in recent games, which meant an injury was due.
D’Angelo Russell, who has dealt with a slew of injuries, was taken out of Sunday’s game against the Rockets at halftime with left foot pain.
Russell has only returned recently from an injury.
Injury update: D'Angelo Russell is out for the rest of the game tonight due to left foot soreness.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) April 3, 2023
Russell seems to be in discomfort due to his foot, although it is unclear if he has sustained an injury.
Head coach Darvin Ham explained after the game that they took Russell out of the lineup as a precaution, but that he was available to play.
It seems like a calculated gamble, given how formidable their foe was and how easily they triumphed without him.
Darvin Ham on D'Angelo Russell's injury: "It was definitely precautionary, just a little left foot soreness. He could've continued the game if we needed him to."
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) April 3, 2023
Russell scored 6 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, and dished out 4 assists in 15 minutes of action against the Rockets.
The Lakers are 40-38 in the season. They are currently 7th in the West Conference.
Before the game against the Rockets, Russell was averaging 18.0 points, 6.5 assists, 47.5% shooting from the field, and 39.3% from three-point range for the Lakers.
He was acquired by the Lakers in February and has since been instrumental in the team’s remarkable turnaround. With Russell, the Lakers’ starting lineup has been excellent.
Returning to Los Angeles has been exciting for Russell, but it has also resulted in significant pain.
A player for the Warriors accidentally stepped on his ankle, hurting him. This caused him to miss six contests. Later, after returning for seven games, he missed another two due to right hip pain.
After D’Lo returned on Wednesday in Chicago, the Lakers looked fantastic for the next 2.5 games. As a result, in the Houston game, Russell shot 2-4 in the first half but still managed to score six points, dish out four assists, and grab three boards in 15 total minutes.
On Tuesday, when they play the Jazz, the Lakers’ road trip will come to a close. They have a game in Los Angeles against the Clippers on Wednesday. The Lakers have a lot riding on the last week of the season if they hope to improve their playoff positioning.
The Lakers’ season has been defined by injuries, so it stands to reason that the season’s final week will be action-packed. Let’s hope it’s not too serious of an injury.
