The Los Angeles Lakers comfortably fended off the New Orleans Pelicans in their matchup tonight. The return of D’Angelo Russell from his single-game absence provided the Lakers with the desperate scoring burst they needed. The 6’3″ point guard continued his fantastic run, scoring a team-high 30 points in the contest.

His six threes led the perimeter barrage the Purple and Gold rarely enjoy. They shot over 45% from three, a steep upscale from their 36% mark for the season. Additionally, they took care of the ball like it was all that mattered. They only turned the ball over seven times, the Pelicans gave it away 13 times.

However, tonight belonged to Russell. Despite all the rumors circulating during the trade deadline, D’Lo remained unfazed, focused on his basketball, and has now become an integral part of the lineup. After his electric night, he had a message for those who tried to pull him down.

D’Angelo Russell speaks about after leading the Lakers to a win

The trade deadline period couldn’t have been easy especially if one was D’Angelo Russell. The point guard for the Lakers was subject to a heavy deal of trade talks. His name was always in the running to be moved in the Lakers’ search for a potential third star. But he let his game refuel the confidence back in him.

In his last 10 games, he has now averaged over 23 points. He has scored over 20 in nine of his last 12 games now. His stroke looks confident and Russell just walks the court with purpose. After his amazing night, he was asked about the stress of the deadline and how he combated the uncertainty.

But Russell only revealed being unaffected by that.

“Year nine for me bro, I am numb to all that,” he said. When addressing his team, he said the key to go deep is “stay healthy. keep taking the hate like a champ,”. 

Since mid-January, the time Russell really dialed up his production, the Lakers have always felt competitive. Their offense runs through him which has opened up for the floor and also reduced the defensive pressure off LeBron James. Tonight, D’Lo had one of those special nights where he just couldn’t miss.

He torched the Pelicans for 30 points and 5 assists in the Lakers’ 122-139 victory. Their 87 points in the first half were mainly supplied by the Kentucky guard, who had 21. The 27-year-old has ramped up his scoring output since the month of January, and he is still on the hunt for more.

If the Lakers want to compete, they need a D’Angelo Russell. He is fluid, lets the game naturally come to him, and has fit fell to complement both James and Davis. His playmaking has always been a point of notice. However, he is now becoming exactly what the Lakers need. Because of his burst, the defenses are forced to view him as a threat. If they don’t, he won’t take long to punish them.

READ MORE-Not LeBron James, but Josh Hart Wishes He Had This Ex-LA Star for “Longer” in His NBA Career

Not only is Russell opening up space, but he is making teammates better. Austin Reaves had one of his best games today, scoring 27 points all while missing just 5 of his 15 shots. The 27-year-old contemporary guard has forged his place in the starting lineup for the Lakers. At this point, any doubts about his inclusion should have dissolved away. Russell belongs in LA.

Watch This Story: 39-Year-Old LeBron James Ends 2023 High and Way Above Fellow Veteran Stephen Curry in Elite NBA List