Lakers Injury Report: D'Angelo Russell Status Finalized for Raptors Game

Will L.A.'s starting point guard suit up in the Great White North?

Oct 28, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick with guard D'Angelo Russell (1) against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Will Los Angeles Lakers starting point guard D'Angelo Russell suit up in the Great White North for L.A.'s matchup against the lowly Toronto Raptors?

The 6-foot-3 Ohio State product has been grappling with lower back soreness, but has seen his status upgraded to available, reports Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

Russell still needs to play his way into being a tradable expiring contract for the Lakers. That can't happen until he corrects his shooting issues. Through his first five games for Los Angeles, the 28-year-old is averaging a career-low 10.8 points on a .367/.250/1.000 slash line, plus 5.8 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.0 steals a night.

The action tips off at 4:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

According to the NBA's latest injury report, nine-time All-Star center Anthony Davis is probable to play through a sore right hip suffered during L.A.'s 134-110 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Big men Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wood are both still recuperating from surgeries to a right foot and left knee, respectively.

Two-way players Lakers players Armel Traore, Christian Koloko and Quincy Olivari are all out as they put in reps with L.A.'s El Segundo-based G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. The Lakers' 2023 NBA Draft picks, point guard Jalen Hood-Schifino and forward Maxwell Lewis, are both also on assignment to South Bay, as well.

Hood-Schifino is having a rough week. Before he was demoted to L.A.'s NBAGL affiliate, it was revealed that Lakers management had opted not to pick up the third season on the 6-foot-6 Indiana product's rookie-scale contract for 2025-26.

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The Raptors have been bit by the injury bug, too, in a big way. All-Star forward Scottie Barnes is sidelined with a right orbital fracture. Former Lakers nemesis Bruce Brown is recovering from a right knee scope, center Kelly Olynyk is on the shelf with a lumbar strain in his back, guard Immanuel Quickley is doubtful to play as he continues to recover from a right pelvic contusion. Ja'Kobe Walter is questionable with an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder. Two-way player Ulrich Chomche is putting in reps with the Raptors' NBAGL squad, Raptors 905.

Los Angeles is heavily favored to win. The Action Network currently lists L.A. as -9.5 point favorites to vanquish Toronto.

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