Bad news is coming in from the LA Lakers camp as D’Angelo Russell marked an exit mid-way through the game against the Warriors due to injury.
Los Angeles Lakers faced the Golden State Warriors on Thursday in their first matchup after the All-Star break. Both the teams are struggling at the 13th and 10th spot, respectively, on the Western Conference points table. Meanwhile, the Lakers have 23 games in hand to make the final playoff push. The game was extremely crucial as they could not afford to lose even a single game at the moment.
Initially, the Lakers started well in the first quarter with a lead and maintained it throughout the game. Warriors, who took the court without their star player, Steph Curry, struggled to put pressure on the purple and gold. Malik Beasley emerged as the lead point scorer for the Lakers with 25 points, one assist, and three rebounds. Austin Reaves, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis made a fair share of contributions with double-digit points. However, the Lakers faced another injury scare during the first half of the game.
D’Angelo Russell Retired Early Against The Warriors Due To Injury
While the Lakers rejoiced the sweet victory against the Warriors, fresh injury concerns have resurfaced in the camp. The team’s newest addition, D’Angelo Russell, was forced to exit the game early due to an injury. The point guard twisted his ankle by stepping on Donte DiVincenzo’s foot. He immediately fell on the court and later dragged himself out. Moreover, the official word is that Russell has sprained his right ankle and hence missed the rest of the match against the Warriors.
Russell’s injury is a concerning development for the Lakers, who have already been hit hard by injuries this season. LeBron James and Anthony Davis have both missed significant time due to injuries, and the Lakers have struggled to maintain their form. On the other hand, the severity of Russell’s latest injury is not yet known. But any extended absence would be a major blow to the Lakers’ playoff hopes. The team has mere 22 games in hand, and even a single loss could cause severe damage.
D’Angelo In Agreement Of A Contract Extension With Lakers
Ex-Timberwolves point guard D’Angelo Russell arrived in Hollywood via a three-team trade deal. Russell, who previously spent his rookie year with the purple and gold, had to part ways after an unfortunate controversy. However, post the reunion, the point guard has all the intentions to stay a little longer this time around.
As per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, both the Lakers and Russell are in agreement on a contract extension. Further, rumors suggest that it could be a two-year deal initially with an option till 2026. However, no official word is out yet, and these are just speculations for the moment. Nevertheless, the chances of an extended contract are very high as the Lakers would want to keep the young, dynamic talent intact with the team. Lastly, Russell’s current season’s performance will play a huge role in that alleged contract offer.
