The Los Angeles Lakers failed to get a victory Thursday night in Kobe Bryant’s last game in Sacramento. However, the team showed great resolve as they came fighting back to take the lead in the fourth quarter despite being down by 27 points earlier in the game. Even though the team showed a valiant effort, they came up just short in the final seconds, losing 118-115.
The game featured a career night for rookie D’Angelo Russell and he helped spur the Lakers comeback. Russell was effective on both ends of the court and he did whatever he could to help the Lakers get back into the game.
After the loss, the rookie from Ohio State spoke to the media and told them this was just the beginning, via Baxter Holmes of ESPN:
D'Angelo Russell on his big game: "Y'all ain't seen nothing yet."
— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) January 8, 2016
Russell finished the game with a career-high 27 points to go along with two rebounds and four assists. The rookie shot an impressive 11-of-16 from the field and added on three three-pointers. Perhaps most impressive of them all was that Russell had a plus/minus of +28 while the rest of the starters were all below -10.
However, Russell was not able to be on the court in the final minutes as he turned his ankle while attacking the basket. He did give it go on the following possession, but the pain was too much to handle and Russell had to be taken back to the locker room. Nevertheless, it was another breakout game for Russell and fans were extremely happy to see him performing at such a high level.
The Lakers take the floor again tonight when they host Oklahoma City for yet another matchup with the dangerous Thunder roster. Russell will be questionable for the game as it will be tough for him to play a back-to-back after his ankle injury.