Redick: Russell’s minutes cut due to ‘level of competition’

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick cited “certain habits” as part of the reason D’Angelo Russell was limited to a season-low 22 minutes in Wednesday’s 131-114 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

“Competition level, attention to detail. Some of the things we’ve talked to him about in a couple of weeks,” Redick said when asked after the game about the starting guard’s lower usage, according to Lakers Nation’s Daniel Starkand.

“At times he’s been really good, other times it’s just going back to certain habits. It wasn’t like a penalty, but for us to have a chance to win this game, that’s the way we wanted to take. (Gabe Vincent) in the first half, especially defensively, it was great, I just wanted to see what it looked like.”

Russell, who entered Wednesday averaging 31.3 minutes in seven games this season, was replaced by Vincent with 5:54 left in the third quarter and never reentered the contest. He finished with 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting, including a 2-of-9 mark from downtown. He also had just three assists, his worst single-game total this season.

Vincent hit a long stepback two immediately after subbing in that trimmed Memphis’ lead to nine, but the Grizzlies answered with a Jay Huff three and the Lakers never got within single digits again. Memphis opened its biggest lead a minute into the final frame when Luke Kennard — making his season debut after missing the first seven games with a foot strain — hit his only three of the contest to put his team up 22.

Lakers star LeBron James scored 39 points while shooting 15-of-24 from the field and 6-of-11 from deep. He also chipped in seven rebounds, six assists and a steal in the loss.

“LeBron was great — he’s almost 40 years old and he played the hardest on our team,” Redick said courtesy of Lakers reporter Mike Trudell.