Lakers Injury Update: D’Angelo Russell diagnosed with MCL sprain and calf strain, will not play against the Mavericks

Update: According to Bill Oram of the Orange County Register, D’Angelo Russell did not travel with the Lakers to Dallas for their game against the Mavericks, so he is out at least one game. The Lakers said during their Saturday morning practice that his MRI results had not come back yet.

Original story follows.

D’Angelo Russell has been a key cog in most of the success the Los Angeles Lakers have had this year, which is why when he collapsed on the court less than one minute into the team’s win over the Indiana Pacers it was enough to make the arena hold its collective breathe.

Russell was able to walk off the court under his own power, and even tried to test his legs by bouncing up and down near the Lakers bench, but the team escorted him back to the locker room. Once there, Russell was diagnosed with an MCL sprain in his right knee and a strained right calf, the team announced. Russell did not return to the game, and the Lakers say he will be re-evaluated after an MRI on Saturday.

It’s worth noting that Russell’s left knee was the one that held him out of 13 games earlier this season, so this wasn’t a re-occurrence, just the result of a freak collision. It’s also worth noting that the Lakers have been 2.5 points per 100 possessions worse with Russell off the floor this season, so despite the team managing to win on Friday without him, the Lakers will need him back if they hope to attain any consistent success.

All stats per NBA.com. Harrison Faigen is co-host of the Locked on Lakers podcast (subscribe here), and you can follow him on Twitter at @hmfaigen.