After the monumental and emotional unveiling of Kobe Bryant’s statue on Thursday afternoon, the Los Angeles Lakers will host the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets. It will be their first game back home after going 4-2 on an odd six-game Grammy road trip.
The best way for the Lakers to honor the deceased legend on this day would be to manufacture a win over Nikola Jokic and company.
Unfortunately, they will have to go to battle without one of their best players. Starting guard D’Angelo Russell, who has been playing some of the best basketball of his career lately, is out due to a knee ailment.
Russell is out tonight, per the Lakers. https://t.co/RwrQ5ZY4xm
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 9, 2024
Head coach Darvin Ham said on Wednesday that Russell had a “tune-up procedure” on his knee and was unable to participate in practice.
Los Angeles will play again on Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans (30-21).