NBA

Lakers D'Angelo Russell To Miss Extended Time

The Los Angeles Lakers announced that point guard D'Angelo Russell with miss at least two weeks due to a sore left knee

A day after one of the feel good moments of the young season, the Los Angeles Lakers announced that point guard D'Angelo Russell expects to miss a minimum of two weeks after receiving a PRP injection in response to a sore left knee.

Russell had previous missed two of the Lakers' previous three games with the soreness and did not travel with the team to Oakland for Wednesday's game against the Golden State Warriors. The 20-year-old will be re-evaluated in a week's time.

If Russell only misses the minimum of two weeks, the former Ohio State Buckeye would sit out nine more games and return on Dec. 9 in a home game against the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers take off on a seven-game road trip on Dec. 12, so Russell's expects to be available for the voyage based on the current timeline.

Lakers coach Luke Walton has employed veteran guard Jose Calderon to start in place of Russell, and the Spaniard played his best game since joining the purple and gold on Tuesday night by recording 12 points, six rebounds and four assists. Marcelo Huertas is also an option to step in as a starter, as Walton prefers to keep both Lou Williams and Jordan Clarkson with the second unit and maintain continuity in what is statistically the best bench in the NBA.

The Lakers' next two games are against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, so the 35-year-old Spaniard will be tested early and often.

Prior to the injury, Russell had been averaging 16.1 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in 13 starts during the 2016-17 season.

Note: The Lakers currently list forward Julius Randle as doubtful for Wednesday night's game due to a hip pointer injury, so LA could be without two of its first starters against the Warriors.

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