Lakers' D'Angelo Russell slips, mildly sprains knee ligament

LOS ANGELES (AP) Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell mildly sprained a ligament in his right knee in the opening minutes of Los Angeles' game against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.

Russell also strained his right calf muscle. He didn't return to the game, and he will undergo an MRI exam on Saturday.

Russell was hurt while going around a screen set by teammate Julius Randle on Los Angeles' second possession. The point guard's left leg alarmingly stretched backward when he lost his footing, and he stayed down on the court for several moments.

He eventually walked on his own to the locker room, where the sprain and strain were diagnosed.

Russell is averaging 14.8 points, 4.5 assists and 3.8 rebounds during the second NBA season for the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 draft. He has been playing for several weeks with a sore left knee, which kept him out for 12 games earlier in the season.

Jose Calderon played extensively in Russell's absence.

Lakers guard Nick Young also went to the locker room late in the first half after hyperextending his left knee, but he returned for the third quarter.