Lakers Not Concerned With D'Angelo Russell's Foot Injury

Leaving Sunday's game against the Houston Rockets early due to a foot injury, the Los Angeles Lakers do not appear to be concerned about D'Angelo Russell's availability moving forward.

The Los Angeles Lakers made many moves at the NBA trade deadline this season, but none were bigger than moving Russell Westbrook in a trade for the team's former No. 2 overall pick, D'Angelo Russell. 

Since coming over from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Lakers, Russell has been everything Los Angeles has been looking for alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, as he has averaged 17.1 points and 6.3 assists per game while shooting 39.8 percent from three-point range. 

In Sunday's victory over the Houston Rockets, the Lakers' third consecutive win, Russell recorded six points, four assists and three rebounds in just 15 minutes of play, as he left the game early due to a foot injury. 

Injury update: D'Angelo Russell is out for the rest of the game tonight due to left foot soreness.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) April 3, 2023

The Lakers revealed that D'Angelo Russell was dealing with left foot soreness and that he would not return to this game. 

Obviously there was a cause for concern with Russell leaving the game, but after the game, head coach Darvin Ham clarified why the team held the former All-Star out and that his injury is nothing serious. 

"Yeah, it was definitely precautionary," Ham told reporters after the game. "Just a little left foot soreness, flared up a little bit. He could’ve continued the game if we needed him to, but we just got the bodies we have available to us now we just didn’t wanna risk it. Just decided to hold him out and he’ll be evaluated we’ll see how he feels in the morning."

At halftime, the Lakers held a ten point lead over the Rockets and given that Houston resides at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, Los Angeles probably felt very comfortable with the idea of getting Russell extra rest if his foot was bothering him slightly. 

As far as his status moving forward, it does appear as if D'Angelo Russell will be available and ready to play in the team's next game on April 4 on the road against the Utah Jazz. 

Following their victory over the Rockets, the Lakers are now 40-38 on the season, tied with the New Orleans Pelicans for the 7-seed in the Western Conference and just a half-game back of both the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors for the 5-seed and 6-seed. 

With a game against the Clippers coming up after their game against the Jazz, the Lakers will have a couple of opportunities to avoid the Play-In Tournament region of the standings at the conclusion of the regular season. 

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