D'Angelo Russell after dropping 44 on the Bucks & getting the Lakers a Win: "Public humiliation has molded me into the killa that y'all see today..I never lack confidence, I never fear confrontation, I want all the smoke. "
D'Angelo Russell after torching the Milwaukee Bucks: "Public humiliation has done nothing but mold me into the killer you see today."
NBASunday, 10 March 2024 at 00:00
Without LeBron James, out due to an ankle injury,Los Angeles Lakers found in D'Angelo Russell an offensive beast last night. The guard had an oustanding performance against the Milwaukee Bucks that fueled the Lakers impressive victory against the 2nd seeded in the Eastern Conference.
Russell scored 21 of his 44 points in the fourth period and hit a jumper to put the Lakers ahead with 5.9 seconds left, sealing the 123-122 victory. Spencer Dinwiddie blocked Damian Lillard's shot just before the buzzer to preserve the thrilling win for the Lakers as James sat out to rest his sore left ankle, missing his ninth game of the season due to the lingering injury.
The Lakers were led by Russell, who matched his season-high with nine three-pointers while also dishing out nine assists in a spectacular display. In addition, Russell scored eight points in the final 1:13 minutes, leading the Lakers' comeback from a late deficit and improving their record to 5-4 without James.
"D-Lo just stepped up and won us the game, and obviously with Spence with the defense on that last possession," said Austin Reaves, who scored 18 points for the Lakers. "Just watching D-Lo take control of the game, constantly telling him in timeouts, 'Take us home.'"
Russell, again, elevated his offensive production when forced to play without James or Davis, showing confidence in his shot and effectively distributing the ball on offense. After the game, Russell was quiet about his best game of the season but acknowledged that his NBA career, including four trades and the annual trade rumors surrounding him, have sharpened his approach to tough situations.
"On the court, I've always felt like I was capable of doing things, [and] being on a roll makes it a little more exciting," Russell said. "Off the court, obviously everyone knows what I've been through. The public humiliation has done nothing but mold me into the killer you see today. There's never a lack of confidence. I'm never afraid of confrontation. I want every challenge.... I just feel confident in what I bring to the game of basketball, so anywhere I go in, I'm confident."
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