While trade deadline news leads to many headlines, the Golden State Warriors still have basketball games on the schedule. To end their five-game road trip, the Warriors will travel to Brooklyn for a chance at winning three-consecutive games.
Helping the Warriors odds at heading back to San Francisco with a winning road trip is the return of D’Angelo Russell. Russell missed Golden State’s game in Washington with a quad contusion, but the team was able to seal a victory without him.
Alec Burks led the team in scoring without Russell in Washington, dropping 30-points off the bench. Sophomore guard Jacob Evans III started in the Louisville native’s spot as he dealt with a quad injury.
Against Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie and the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State could use the talent of Russell.
According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, after a full practice, Russell is expected to play against Brooklyn.
D’Angelo Russell is expected to play for the Warriors tomorrow in Brooklyn. Went through practice today.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 4, 2020
Wednesday night would be Russell’s first appearance in Brooklyn, where he spent two seasons before coming to Golden State. Last season Russell led the Brooklyn Nets to a playoff bid in the Eastern Conference while also netting an All-Star nod. With the Nets, Russell averaged 21.1 points and 7.0 assists per game in 81 contests.
With Golden State, Russell has taken over as Steve Kerr’s offensive initiator, leading the team in scoring with 23.8 points per game while adding 6.3 assists. The former Ohio State Buckeye is shooting 43.3 % from the field and 38.3 % from beyond the arc.
If Golden State does decide to move Russell by the Thursday trade deadline, a homecoming date in Brooklyn could be his last game as a member of the Warriors.