D’Angelo Russell’s game-winner against the Minnesota Timberwolves last Sunday appears to be the last shot he’ll take this season for the Los Angeles Lakers. Russell, who is back in Kentucky grieving the loss of his grandmother, won’t be playing in the team’s season finale against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.
According to Mark Medina of the L.A. Daily News, Russell has been ruled out of the game while Brandon Ingram is probable:
D'Angelo Russell formally ruled out tonight vs Warriors (with family). Brandon Ingram listed as probable (previous right knee tendinitis)
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) April 12, 2017
With Russell out of the lineup for a second straight game, head coach Luke Walton and company could turn to Metta World Peace again to fill the void in the starting lineup. World Peace got the start in the win over the New Orleans Pelicans and played well in what will likely be his final game at the Staples Center with a team-high 18 points.
Although World Peace getting the start in potentially his last NBA game is a possibility, Walton may decide to go with Tyler Ennis or David Nwaba. Ennis has played very well as of late, highlighted by a career-high 20 points against the Timberwolves this past Sunday. Nwaba, who is an entirely different kind of player in comparison to Russell and Ennis, brings a defensive boost in the backcourt that would prove useful against Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
As for Russell, the second-year guard’s season comes to an end after playing in 63 games. The Ohio State product averaged 15.6 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 40.5 percent from the floor and 35.2 percent from beyond the arc.