Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell is slated to return to the lineup against the visiting Toronto Raptors on Friday after missing six games due to a sprained right ankle.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham said on Thursday that Russell is “pretty much a full go,” while the team listed the 27-year-old veteran as probable. The game will be the first for Russell since he got hurt on Feb. 23.
Russell has played in just four games for the Lakers since being acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves at the trade deadline. He indicated he won’t be hampered by the ankle against the Raptors.
“My style of play kind of allows me to not overload any injury like that when it comes to the ankle or knee or things like that because I don’t play that explosive,” Russell said. “So it kind of benefits me in that sense.”
Russell’s return will send Dennis Schroder back to a reserve role.
Russell is averaging 13.5 points and 5.0 assists since beginning for his second tour of duty with Los Angeles. The Lakers made him the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 draft and he spent two seasons with them before playing for the Brooklyn Nets, the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota over the past five-plus seasons.
Russell averaged 17.9 points and 6.2 assists in 54 games with the Timberwolves this season before the trade. He has career averages of 17.7 points and 5.7 assists in 482 games (418 starts).
Russell’s return comes with the Lakers playing without LeBron James (foot) for at least two more weeks. The team also will be without center Mo Bamba for at least four weeks with a high left ankle sprain.
–Field Level Media
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