Julius Randle has a sore big toe and is listed as probable for the Lakers’ Sunday game
The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Toronto Raptors on Friday night, but the loss didn’t come without the instillation of some hope for the Lakers. The young trio of Lakers in Julius Randle, D’Angelo Russell, and Jordan Clarkson all shined in the loss, specifically on the offensive end where Randle regained his early-season form and Russell showed much-needed aggressiveness.
However, Randle’s return to form on Friday night may slow him down for the Lakers’ upcoming schedule.
According to Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters, the talented big man is dealing with a sore big toe and is listed as probable for the Lakers’ matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers:
Julius Randle has a sore big toe on his left foot. Lakers listing him as probable for tomorrow's game vs. Portland.
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) November 21, 2015
Randle being listed as probable is a positive sign that points to the second-year player being on the floor on Sunday night in STAPLES Center, one has to wonder if it will hinder him in any way. Randle, when he’s been at his best this year, has been dangerous attacking opposing big men off the dribble with his quick and deft footwork. It might be a minor injury, but an ailing big toe could slow that down to some degree.
Moreover, Randle being a little banged up could call for the Lakers dipping further into their bench to help fill minutes. This could mean Byron Scott calling on the likes of Tarik Black to play more minutes or even possibly getting Ryan Kelly off of the end of the bench and into the action.
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This doesn’t seem like a problem that’s going to persist for Randle as the season goes on, but it is something that Lakers fans should keep an eye on for the immediate future in terms of his performance and how Scott handles his workload.