Russell had a rough outing in Game 1, shooting six of 20 from the field and only making one of his nine attempts from beyond the arc. Despite rumors of benching swirling around, Coach Darvin Ham opted to stick with his starting guard. In Game 2, Russell bounced back with an impressive performance, scoring 23 points, dishing out six assists, and sinking seven 3-pointers, although the LA team narrowly lost the contest. Despite the renewed hope, Russell struggled once again in the following game.
Lakers fans booed Darvin Ham during their starting lineup introductions louder than they booed the Nuggets, per @GoldenKnightGFX. pic.twitter.com/mK6RSkj20S
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 26, 2024
In Game 3, Russell failed to make any significant impact on the scoreboard, going scoreless and missing all six of his 3-point attempts, along with his only 2-pointer. Despite contributing in other aspects of the game with three rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block, the Lakers were heavily reliant on Russell finding his scoring touch to stand a chance against the defending champions. As frustration grew among fans, evident through boos, Russell found himself benched after just 24 minutes on the court, The situation didn’t improve for Russell and the Lakers.
