Tag: D’Angelo

D’Angelo Russell shows no rust in return after six game injury absence

D’Angelo Russell scored 34 points after missing the Golden State Warriors’ previous six games due to a shoulder injury.

Injuries have turned the Golden State Warriors 2019-20 season upside down. Each night the Warriors have had to deal with replacing a new player out due to different ailments. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney have been the most consistent figures popping up on the Warriors injury report each night.

Following the trio of injured Warriors is D’Angelo Russell. Russell has had three different stints where injuries ruled him out for a stretch of games. The 23-year-old has been dealing with a shoulder injury that took him out of the Warriors’ last six games.

There’s no coincidence that Golden State has dropped all six contests with Russell out of the lineup. When the team traveled to Memphis on the final games of their quick two-game road trip, Louisville, Kentucky native, made his first appearance of the 2020 new year.

It took one quarter for Russell to shake the dust off, only scoring one point in the opening quarter against the Grizzlies, but after that, he turned it on.

Russell added 17 points in the second period, rallying the Warriors to only a one-point deficit heading into halftime. Russell ended his night in Memphis with 34 points. However, a third-quarter outburst from the Grizzlies spoiled his return with the Warriors falling for their eighth consecutive contest.

Although during the loss, Russell proved his shoulder is feeling fine, shooting 12-of-24 from the field, including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. Russell added seven rebounds and four assists against Ja Morant and the Grizzlies.

Russell has now had 30 or more points in four of his last five games. The Ohio State product is shooting 47.7 % from the field in that time while going 43.4 % from beyond the arc.

If the Warriors can break their losing streak anytime soon, Russell will need to be a significant factor. Golden State’s schedule doesn’t get any easier while they’re struggling, Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks are next on the docket, followed by the Western Conference playoff hopeful, Denver Nuggets.