"Didn’t want to risk it"- Darvin Ham calms fans' nerves about D’Angelo Russell after star exited game at halftime

The LA Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 134-109 on Sunday. However, it wasn’t all good news for Darvin Ham's men, as guard D’Angelo Russell was ruled out at halftime due to left foot soreness.

That had many Lakers fans concerned, as Russell has only played 14 games for LA this season since being acquired from Minnesota on Feb. 9. He has missed time due to both ankle and hip injuries.

However, according to Lakers coach Darvin Ham, Russell’s absence on Sunday was more of a precautionary measure, and he could have played if needed:

“It was definitely precautionary. He could have continued the game if we needed him to. The bodies we have available to us now, we just didn’t want to risk it.”

Russell ended the game with six points, three rebounds and four assists on 50.0% shooting in 15 minutes. He's averaging 17.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 0.7 steals and 2.5 3-pointers per game on 47.5% shooting through 14 games for LA.

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Darvin Ham's Lakers move within half a game of sixth seed

LA Lakers star forward LeBron James

With their win on Sunday, the LA Lakers (40-38, seventh in the West) moved within half a game of the sixth-seeded Golden State Warriors (41-38). With just four games remaining, the Lakers now have a chance to move out of the play-in and secure a playoff spot. The win marked LA’s third straight and sixth in their last seven games.

LA was led by star big man Anthony Davis, who finished with 40 points, nine rebounds and two blocks on 75.0% shooting. Lakers star forward LeBron James added a triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists on 44.4% shooting.

Meanwhile, Houston (19-60, 15th in the West) was led by second-year shooting guard Jalen Green. Green finished with 24 points, three rebounds and seven assists on 33.3% shooting.

Following the game, James spoke about the Lakers’ recent string of success and the team's championship aspirations:

“We just want to put ourselves in the position to compete for a championship. It’s a journey and obviously we don’t have as much chemistry as a lot of other teams that have aspirations to win a championship, but we’ve been building over the last month or so.

"These last four games are very important for our team, not only wins and losses but also the chemistry side as well. We need to continue to build what we’ve been building over the last month or so. We’ll see what happens.”

Meanwhile, Davis spoke postgame about how he’s feeling healthy and in rhythm:

“I’m in a great rhythm, feeling good. “Feel like I’m back to myself before the injury. We are all playing well. The guys are making it easy for me.”

Darvin Ham added that LA is peaking at just the right time with only four games remaining:

“We always say we want to get stronger as the season gets longer and be playing our best basketball at the right time. Well, the time is definitely right and everybody’s in a good rhythm starting with (Davis) first and foremost. He understands wholeheartedly what we need him to do and he’s coming out and trying to do that.”

LA next play on Tuesday against Utah (36-42, 12th in the West), while Houston face Denver (52-26, first in the West) on the same day.

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