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Byron Scott says D’Angelo Russell will start for rest of season

Rookie guard D’Angelo Russell will start the Lakers’ remaining 25 games, head coach Byron Scott announced.
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Los Angeles Lakers rookie guard D’Angelo Russell will start the team’s remaining 25 games, head coach Byron Scott announced.

Russell started Los Angeles’s 126–115 loss to the Bulls on Sunday and tallied 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting with six assists in 34 minutes. It was just the 22nd time the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft has gotten the nod from Scott.

Scott’s deployment of Russell has fluctuated throughout the year, and the veteran coach has not shied away from discussing his rookie guard in public. Early in February, he cryptically said that the Ohio State product was not performing up to expectations.

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“I probably thought he’d be a little further,” he told reporters on Feb. 6.

Sunday marked the sixth time in seven games that Russell tallied 12 or more points.

– Kenny Ducey