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A month after being the subject of trade rumors, D’Angelo Russell has become arguably the most important player for the Los Angeles Lakers and their quest for the playoffs.
Russell came away with 44 points on 17 of 25 shooting (9 of 12 three-pointers), nine rebounds and six assists in the Lakers’ 123-122 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night.
Los Angeles was playing without LeBron James, who is nursing an ankle injury. The Lakers are now 5-4 this season when he doesn’t play.
Russell’s heroics overshadowed Giannis Antetokounmpo’s triple-double of 34 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists in 39 minutes. Damian Lillard recorded his first double-double since February 23 with 28 points and 12 assists.
One of Russell’s many highlights was hitting the game-winning shot with five seconds left.
NBA @NBA
D’Angelo Russell WENT for 44 PTS and scored the game-winning goal to give the Lakers the lead over the Bucks!
???? 44 PTS
???? 9 3PM
???? 9 AST
???? 6 REBs§️ Russell joins LeBron James and Kobe Bryant as the only players in Laker history with 9 3PMs in a game pic.twitter.com /HYC2LQOGVx
Russell scored 21 of the team’s 27 points in the fourth quarter. He is the first Lakers player to collect so many points in the fourth quarter since Kobe Bryant’s last game.
Speaking to reporters after his iconic performance, Russell had one of the best quotes of the season about how past adversity has shaped his performances this season:
HoopsHype @hoop
“Public humiliation only transformed me into the killer you all see today.”
— D’Angelo Russell after losing 44 to Milwaukee pic.twitter.com/a0kkUUigLU
Lakers fans, who have a hot and cold relationship with Russell, certainly have a lot of appreciation for what he’s doing for the team right now. Bryant’s name was mentioned by more than one person after this game.
Ultra @UltraTV90
KOBE IN DISGUISE
I’m a believer NOW pic.twitter.com/ld7SuNyk6X
Blake @BushLeagueBlake
D’Angelo Russell was so rich tonight that Kobe finally forgave him pic.twitter.com/bEde4bIvk0
zengreenyoda @zengreenyoda
The Lakers win ????????????
D’Angelo Russell became Kobe Bryant…he was amazing as Mamba…I pressured Jeanie Buss NOT TO TRADE Dlo. He is our draft pick at number 2… He earned his contract extension. I am very proud of him pic.twitter.com/ezI1ayyuSm
LakeShowYo @LakeShowYo
D’ANGELO RUSSELL PUT THE CITY OF LA ON HIS BACK ???????? pic.twitter.com/Re8mhV03FA
It wasn’t long ago that Atlanta Hawks fans were chanting “we don’t want you” at Russell amid rumors that the Lakers wanted to use him in a deal for Dejounte Murray before the deadline limit of exchanges.
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
The Hawks’ “6th Man Section” chanting “We don’t want you!” with D’Angelo Russell on the free throw line: pic.twitter.com/RS8AAtIstg
Since the Feb. 8 deadline, Russell is averaging 21.6 points on 45.0 percent three-point shooting and 6.3 assists per game in 12 starts. He has scored at least 20 points seven times and made at least four threes six times during that span.
The Lakers are 8-4 in their last 12 games with wins over the Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder. They still find themselves in the play-in mix as the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference with a 35-30 record, four games behind the Sacramento Kings (36-26) in the loss column for the seventh place.
Next up for the Lakers is a showdown with the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. ET. Minnesota won the first two meetings between these teams in December.
