Russell's career game halted by ankle sprain
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Los Angeles Lakers rookie guard D’Angelo Russell, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 draft, left Thursday’s 118-115 loss to the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena with a sprained right ankle after scoring a career-high 27 points.
X-rays taken after the game confirmed there were no fractures in the ankle, the Lakers announced. The former Ohio State standout’s availability moving forward is unclear. The Lakers face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday at Staples Center.
Russell made 11 of 16 shots in nearly 29 minutes off the bench and scored 19 points in the second half, including 11 in the fourth quarter to help lead the Lakers back from a 27-point deficit.
However, Russell, who also was 3-of-7 from 3-point range, said he rolled his right ankle on a drive to the rim with 2:37 left in the fourth quarter.
“Knock on wood, I’ve never really rolled my ankles or anything, [but] I knew when I rolled it, it was bad,” Russell said. “I tried to go [back] out there and work. I knew I couldn’t go.”
Said Lakers coach Byron Scott, “He just said, ‘I can’t run. I can’t run.'”
Russell was frustrated by not only the injury but also the timing, as he had hit four of five shots in the quarter to lead the Lakers’ furious rally.
“I feel like they kind of got lucky with that one,” Russell said, referencing the Kings. “Honestly, if I wouldn’t have went down, I probably would’ve hit some bogus shot and we would’ve won it. Everything was happening for us. The basketball gods probably blessed us on that one.”
Asked whether he’d be available to play Friday, Russell said, “When you roll your ankle, only time and rest can tell.”
Russell is averaging 12 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 27.6 minutes per game.
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