World Courant
D’Angelo Russell had a resurgent common season, however his postseason wasn’t superb. The Los Angeles Lakers guard missed 13 of his final 16 shot makes an attempt throughout a Sport 1 loss to the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets.
The Lakers dropped Sport 2 in Denver earlier than returning to Los Angeles for Sport 3 of the first-round collection, which additionally did not go the Lakers’ approach.
Within the closing minutes of the sport, Russell was seen sideways on the bench late within the sport as his Lakers teammates huddled collectively to strategize a comeback. Los Angeles misplaced 112-105 and is getting ready to elimination.
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Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell sits sideways on the bench within the closing moments of the Lakers’ 112-105 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Sport 3 of the primary spherical of the NBA playoffs in Crypto.com Enviornment on April 25, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Instances by way of Getty Pictures)
It stays unclear whether or not Russell supposed to choose out of the crew assembly. He had one other irritating sport, lacking all seven pictures from the sector and ending the night time with zero factors.
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Followers within the Lakers’ enviornment started to precise their displeasure with Russell’s efficiency as the sport progressed, and he was ultimately benched.
Though the 28-year-old guard struggled offensively, he grabbed three rebounds and blocked a shot.
D’Angelo Russell of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up earlier than a sport in opposition to the Denver Nuggets throughout the first spherical of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2024 at Crypto.Com Enviornment in Los Angeles. (Adam Pantozzi/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures)
Russell’s current struggles introduced again recollections of his offensive struggles in opposition to the Nuggets within the 2023 Western Convention Finals. However the Lakers nonetheless appear to imagine within the All-Star level guard.
“D-Lo is a giant purpose why we’re in first place right here,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham mentioned earlier this week after the Lakers’ loss in Sport 1. “I am not going to save lots of my participant simply because he is lacking pictures that he usually makes. The identical pictures went in opposition to New Orleans (within the play-in event) and different video games he performed in to assist us so thus far it wasn’t his night time.”
D’Angelo Russell of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball throughout Sport 3 of the primary spherical of the NBA Playoffs in opposition to the Denver Nuggets on April 25, 2024 at Crypto.Com Enviornment in Los Angeles. (Adam Pantozzi/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures)
The Lakers have dropped seven straight playoff video games to the Nuggets.
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The Lakers host two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets for Sport 4 on Saturday.
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Chantz Martin is a sports activities author for Fox Information Digital.
Lakers D’Angelo Russell is beneath scrutiny for habits on the bench throughout the crew’s playoff droop
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