The Los Angeles Lakers are getting hot. They have won seven of their last 10 games, despite being without LeBron James and D’Angelo Russell for much of that span.
They’ve been getting it done on the defensive end and with some dominant play from Anthony Davis. In addition, Dennis Schroder and Austin Reaves have been replacing some of the facilitating and ball-handling Russell normally would bring.
But they definitely need Russell back, as the road to the playoffs will not be easy.
He has missed L.A.’s last six games, but the team will reportedly ramp up his activity with the intention of bringing him back for Friday’s game versus the Toronto Raptors.
Lakers are hopeful D'Angelo Russell will be able to return for Friday's game; he'll go through a scrimmage-type setting tomorrow and they'll see how he responds.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 8, 2023
Of course, Lakers fans have heard this before. The team was hopeful he would be able to return in each of its last two contests, and his status was even upgraded from doubtful to questionable ahead of Tuesday’s win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
But it seems like Russell is progressing, and head coach Darvin Ham even said so on Sunday.
