The Los Angeles Lakers got some good news Sunday after starters D’Angelo Russell and Nick Young returned to action after missing several games due to injuries. Russell missed 11 straight games with a sore left knee that required a platelet-rich plasma injection, while Young missed seven games with a strained calf.
But while the Los Angeles Lakers got their starting backcourt, they still dropped their sixth straight game, losing 118-112 to the New York Knicks. D’Angelo Russell struggled mightily in limited minutes, scoring just three points while having four turnovers—all of which were in a brutal stretch in the third quarter where the New York Knicks built a double-digit lead. Nick Young faired much better, scoring 15 points and grabbing four boards in his 20 minutes. Lakers head coach Luke Walton said that both would be on a tight minutes restriction for Sunday’s game. Russell played 16 minutes, while Young played 20.
The Los Angeles Lakers mounted a push on the back of the best bench in the NBA in the fourth quarter, erasing an 11-point lead to take the lead by one at 87-86. But that would be the last time they would grab the lead, as a strong game by Knicks’ backup point guard Brandon Jennings (19 points, three rebounds and four assists), who hit back to back threes during a crucial stretch, proved too much for the home team. Derrick Rose (25 points) and Kristaps Porzingis (26 points and 12 rebounds) also had strong outings for the visiting team. D’Angelo Russell did not see action in the fourth quarter.
The Los Angeles Lakers were led once again by super sub Lou Williams, who had 24 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Luol Deng had his best game of the season with 22 points, five rebounds and two assists. The Lakers visit the Sacramento Kings Monday.
Source: ESPN.com
