D'Angelo Russell

Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell missed the second half of Sunday's 134-109 victory over the Houston Rockets as a precaution after he experienced…

The Lakers are surely hoping to be at full strength as they make a final push toward the playoffs. Los Angeles acquired Russell from the Minnesota Timberwolves at this year's trade deadline in hopes of adding a third scoring option behind the star duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Lakers held a 70-60 lead at halftime when Russell was ruled out.

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham had a positive update on D'Angelo Russell's foot injury following the Lakers' win over the Houston Rockets on ...

It’s a bit of a tight turnaround for Russell, and Los Angeles has an even bigger game on April 5 against the [Los Angeles Clippers](https://ahnfiredigital.com/category/nba/los-angeles-clippers/). With the emergence of Austin Reaves, Los Angeles had not been short on guard scoring to close out the 2022-23 season. Los Angeles is in striking distance of a top six seed in the Western Conference, which would be huge for the team as it would avoid the league’s play-in tournament. He’s averaging 18.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game in a Lakers uniform. Russell has also missed time with an ankle injury since he was acquired by the Lakers at the trade deadline in a three-team deal featuring the Rockets](https://lakersdaily.com/darvin-ham-provides-immediate-update-on-dangelo-russells-injury-suffered-vs-rockets/) [Kevin Porter Jr.

Because we can't have good things for too long, D'Angelo Russell exited at halftime of Sunday's game against the Rockets with left foot soreness.

It’s the final week of the season, so every game matters as the Lakers look to move up the playoff standings. Darvin Ham on the decision to hold Russell out for the second half with the left foot issue: “It was definitely precautionary. That led up to the Houston game where, in the first half, Russell had six points, four assists and three rebounds on 2-4 shooting in 15 minutes. At halftime of Sunday’s game against the Rockets, D’Angelo Russell was ruled out with left foot soreness, a new injury from the handful he’s suffered from. Then, right hip soreness ruled him out for a pair of contests After the game, head coach Darvin Ham said the move was precautionary and that Russell could have played if he was needed.

Russell exited Sunday's game against Houston with a sore left foot and will not return, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reports.

Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell will not return Sunday in the team's game against the Houston Rockets.

(injury management) starting for Denver Sunday night; Christian Braun back to bench](/nba/player-news/227297/michael-porter-jr-injury-management-starting-for-denver-sunday-night-christian-braun-back-to-bench)April 2nd, 2023 Expect more minutes for Dennis Schroder and Malik Beasley. As a result, the team has announced he will not play for the second half of Sunday's contest.

Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell missed the second half of Sunday's 134-109 victory over the Houston Rockets as a precaution after he experienced…

The Lakers are surely hoping to be at full strength as they make a final push toward the playoffs. Los Angeles acquired Russell from the Minnesota Timberwolves at this year's trade deadline in hopes of adding a third scoring option behind the star duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Lakers held a 70-60 lead at halftime when Russell was ruled out.

The Lakers' new guard duo are thriving thanks to their similarities, interchangeability and willingness to fill in the blanks.

That said, for the first time in a long time, the team’s pieces seem to fit. This is a play that Reaves and Russell can also easily interchange because of their aforementioned abilities, but also, their willingness to fill in the blanks. “On the offensive end, he dominates the game and myself I try to do the same. Neither is an above average athlete, both can be rattled against size and it remains to be seen how each fare on defense in a playoff setting. Bron was able to get isos on the post, the pocket passes got a lot more clear. Beyond the clear trust the team has in Reaves to orchestrate the offense when the likes of James on the floor, notice also Russell’s role here. And thanks to a Jarred Vanderbilt flare screen, finds himself open in the corner. Prior to the trade deadline this scenario would typically result in disaster. In terms of how their malleability manifests itself on the floor, it boils down to each’s capacity to execute three baseline skills: dribble, pass, and shoot. This is largely due to the duo’s ability to serve as slabs of clay on offense. He does not need the ball, is not stagnant, nor is he in the way. Amongst their many foibles however, was a level of rigidness the team couldn't deviate from that hamstrung their growth.

Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell sitting out the second half of the Houston Rockets win with left foot soreness was precautionary.

Hopefully this turns out to be exactly as Ham described it, precautionary, and the Lakers can continue moving forward at full strength to keep their momentum going. He could’ve continued the game if we needed him to, but we just got the bodies we have available to us now we just didn’t wanna risk it. The Lakers did so in comfortable fashion, but once again a potential injury was the talk coming out of the game after point guard D’Angelo Russell sat out the second half.

LA is moving up in the playoff standings with time to spare.

Leaving Sunday's game against the Houston Rockets early due to a foot injury, the Los Angeles Lakers do not appear to be concerned about D'Angelo Russell's ...

D'Angelo Russell popped up on the Los Angeles Lakers injury report after exiting their previous game early with foot soreness.

Even considering Ham’s words, Russell’s “probable” designation ahead of the Lakers’ upcoming back-to-back (they face the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday) is a sigh of relief. The Lakers cruised to a 134-109 victory, improving their record to 5-0 when Russell, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis all play. [DLo exited](https://clutchpoints.com/anthony-davis-getting-los-angeles-lakers-back-to-the-nba-playoffs) the Lakers’ win over the Houston Rockets on Sunday at halftime, though Darvin Ham said the decision was out of caution.