LOS ANGELES_Before D'Angelo Russell could play in a game, Los Angeles Lakers Coach Luke Walton wanted to see him go through a drill with contact. If not in a practice, then simply a three-on-three or two-on-two drill where he'd have to fight through screens and cut.
Russell did both on Saturday. He participated in all of the Lakers' practice, then went through an extra three-on-three drill with five teammates.
"Just trying to get D'Angelo a little bit of playing time with the bodies we have available," Walton said as Russell finished his work. "He looked great. He's ... moving around well all practice long. Seems to be moving pretty well right now in the three-on-three game."
Russell, who is recovering from a left-knee injury, is officially questionable on the Lakers' injury report for Sunday's game against the New York Knicks. It's the first time since Nov. 22, when he was questionable before the Lakers played the Oklahoma City Thunder. Russell had a platelet-rich plasma injection in the knee the next day.
Shooting guard Nick Young, who wasn't able to participate in the three-on-three drill, is listed as doubtful. Walton said Young was feeling too fatigued after practice to participate. Young is recovering from a calf strain in his right leg, which he suffered on Nov. 29 against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Lakers' home game against the Knicks is the first game of a home-road back-to-back. After playing the Knicks, they will travel to Sacramento to play the Kings on Monday. Walton said the schedule won't affect Russell's availability.
"If he's ready to play, he'll play (Sunday)," Walton said. "If he's not we'll re-evaluate and try to get him out there Monday. He's a big part of what we do and we're not going to rush him at all. But if he's cleared to go we won't hold him out."
The Lakers will be without backup point guard Jose Calderon and backup center Tarik Black. Calderon suffered a right-hamstring strain on Dec. 3 in Memphis. Black sprained his ankle against the Utah Jazz on Dec. 5 and has not played since.
The Lakers are also listing Julius Randle as questionable. Randle suffered a hip injury to his right side on Friday in the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Suns. The power forward said Friday the injury was not to the same side as the hip-pointer injury that caused him to miss three games. "I hurt it a couple games ago on the other side," Randle said Friday. "It's just been sore. I've been playing with it. I just reaggravated it. I'll be fine I don't think it's time to sit out."
