Second-year point guard D’Angelo Russell of the Los Angeles Lakers appears to be nearing his return. The Ohio State product has missed the last three games for the Lakers while dealing with a bone bruise, strained calf muscle, and sprained MCL suffered in the win over the Indiana Pacers.
On Sunday, Mark Medina of the L.A. Daily News reported Russell could make his return to the basketball floor on Tuesday against the Denver Nuggets:
D'Angelo Russell listed as questionable for Tuesday's game vs Denver. But that's subject to change since Lakers practice tomorrow
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) January 29, 2017
Even Russell seems confident he’d be able to return on Tuesday when the Lakers host the Nuggets back at Staples, via Tania Ganguli of the L.A. Times:
D'Angelo Russell said he feels like he can play Tuesday. That will be up to the doctors. Went through all of practice today.
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) January 29, 2017
Without Russell in the lineup, the Lakers have lost three straight, including the worst loss in franchise history to the Dallas Mavericks. Los Angeles fell to the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz on the road before returning home ahead of Tuesday’s matchup with the Nuggets.
Third-year forward Julius Randle also missed Thursday’s game against the Jazz. Randle was recently diagnosed with pneumonia, but may also be able to return on Tuesday.
The Lakers will attempt to end their three-game skid with a win at home before embarking on another long trip. Luke Walton’s squad will play the next seven of eight games on the road with the first five all against Eastern Conference opponents starting with the Washington Wizards on Thurs. Feb. 2.