Lakers star rookie D’Angelo Russell suffered a sprained ankle against the Nuggets that looked worse than it was
The Los Angeles Lakers took the floor at STAPLES Center on Friday night to take on the Denver Nuggets in a matchup with only two real storylines going into it. For one, it was again one of Kobe Bryant’s final games of his NBA careers. However, it was also the final matchup of this year between two touted rookie point guards in D’Angelo Russell for the Lakers and Emmanuel Mudiay for the Nuggets.
Unfortunately for the Lakers and Russell, their rookie point guard was unable to finish this one.
Late in the second quarter while the Lakers were on the defensive end of the floor, Russell was trying to contain and took a wide step back toward the lane. Unfortunately, his foot landed on the foot of Nuggets guard D.J. Augustin and Russell’s ankle turned in a nasty way before he crumpled to the floor:
That’s a nasty turn by any measure, which was clear to everyone watching and even the Lakers rookie as he said after the game that he felt like his ankle touched the ground:
D’Angelo Russell: “I felt like my ankle touched the ground.”
— Bill Oram (@billoram) March 26, 2016
Somehow, though, Russell walked away relatively unscathed all things considered. The injury is being called a “moderate ankle sprain” right now. After the game, Lakers head coach Byron Scott even admitted that he thought the injury was much worse when it happened then it ultimately turned out to be before adding that he’s not yet ruling the rookie out for games on Sunday and Monday and he’ll wait and see what his point guard feels like before making that decision:
Scott on Russell’s ankle: “He turned that thing over pretty good. Not gonna count him out Sunday/Monday,” but will see how it responds.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 26, 2016
Obviously fans just want Scott and the Lakers to do whatever is best for the long-term health of Russell after this injury. If he’s in any type of pain, just keep him out to make sure he doesn’t cause any more damage that could linger beyond this season.
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That being said, it’s fortunate that this wasn’t worse for the rookie and, even after a loss, fans should be thankful that it wasn’t after the way that ankle turned.