Lakers’ Russell poised to return to lineup

Before D’Angelo Russell could play in a game, Lakers Coach Luke Walton wanted to see him go through a drill with contact. If not in a practice, then simply a three-on-three or two-on-two drill where he’d have to fight through screens and cut.

Russell did both on Saturday. He participated in all of the Lakers’ practice, then went through an extra three-on-three drill with five teammates.

“Just trying to get D’Angelo a little bit of playing time with the bodies we have available,” Walton said as Russell finished his work. “He looked great. He’s … moving around well all practice long. Seems to be moving pretty well right now in the three-on-three game.”

Russell, who is recovering from a left-knee injury, is officially questionable on the Lakers’ injury report for Sunday’s game against the New York Knicks. It’s the first time since Nov. 22, when he was questionable before the Lakers played the Oklahoma City Thunder. Russell had a platelet-rich plasma injection in the knee the next day.

Shooting guard Nick Young, who wasn’t able to participate in the three-on-three drill, is listed as doubtful. Walton said Young was feeling too fatigued after practice to participate. Young is recovering from a calf strain in his right leg, which he suffered on Nov. 29 against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Lakers’ home game against the Knicks is the first game of a home-road back-to-back. After playing the Knicks, they will travel to Sacramento to play the Kings on Monday. Walton said the schedule won’t impact Russell’s availability.

“If he’s ready to play, he’ll play [Sunday],” Walton said. “If he’s not we’ll reevaluate and try to get him out there Monday. He’s a big part of what we do and we’re not going to rush him at all. But if he’s cleared to go we won’t hold him out.”

The Lakers will be without backup point guard Jose Calderon and backup center Tarik Black. Calderon suffered a right-hamstring strain on Dec. 3 in Memphis. Black sprained his ankle in the third quarter against the Utah Jazz on Dec. 5 and has not played since.

The Lakers are also listing Julius Randle as questionable.

Randle suffered a hip injury to his right side on Friday in the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Suns. The power forward said Friday the injury was not to the same side as the hip-pointer injury that caused him to miss three games.

“I hurt it a couple games ago on the other side,” Randle said Friday. “It’s just been sore. I’ve been playing with it. I just reaggravated it. I’ll be fine I don’t think it’s time to sit out.”

The final decision, of course, won’t be up to Randle.

Etc.

After practice, the Lakers rode shuttles to a holiday party as part of their “Season of Giving” outreach. The Lakers hosted 100 children from an LA’s Best, an after-school education, enrichment and recreation program in Los Angeles. … Lakers’ guard Lou Williams’ 137 points during the last four games is the most any player has scored off the bench since the 1970-71 season when the NBA began tracking the statistic. … The Lakers’ number of starting units has increased to 10, including nine in the last 12 games. Forward Luol Deng is the only player to have started every game this season.

UP NEXT

VS. NEW YORK

When: 6:30 p.m., Sunday.

Where: Staples Center.

On the air: TV: Spectrum SportsNet, Spectrum Deportes; Radio: 710, 1330.

Records: Lakers 10-15, Knicks 13-10.

Record vs. Knicks (2015-16): 0-2.

Update: The most intriguing connection between these two teams involves a coach and an executive. Knicks President of Basketball Operations Phil Jackson won five championships while coaching the Lakers, and Lakers Coach Luke Walton played on two of those teams. Jackson was a major influence on Walton’s coaching style, especially the agency he gave to his players.

tania.ganguli@latimes.com

Twitter: @taniaganguli