Lakers’ Nick Young expected to play vs. Hawks

Los Angeles Lakers guard Nick Young #0 celebrates after making the game winning 3-pointer. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-109 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA 11/22/2016. Photo by John McCoy/Los Angeles Daily News (SCNG)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Nick Young #0 celebrates after making the game winning 3-pointer. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-109 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA 11/22/2016. Photo by John McCoy/Los Angeles Daily News (SCNG)

EL SEGUNDO — As the Lakers anxiously wait for two key pieces of their young core to heal, they still cleared up some space in their trainer’s room.

Lakers coach Luke Walton believes forward Nick Young will return for when the Lakers (8-9) play host to the Atlanta Hawks (10-6) on Sunday at Staples Center. After missing Friday’s loss to Golden State because of a sprain in the second toe of his left foot, Young participated in all of Saturday’s practice without any reported setbacks.

Meanwhile, Walton expressed uncertainty if forward Julius Randle will play after missing the previous two games with a hip pointer. He tried to complete Saturday’s practice, but was held out for the second half. Randle stayed on the court after practice ended to participate in non-contact two-on-two and shooting drills with some of the Lakers’ assistants.

“I hope he plays tomorrow, but we’re not going to rush him,” Walton said. “It’s not worth it. If he can’t go out and play the way he plays in being a dynamic playmaker and pushing the ball in transition and doing all those things for us, then it’s more important to get him more rest.”

Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell remains sidelined for at least the next two weeks after having a non-invasive procedure earlier this week on his sore left knee. He took some stationary shots in street clothes at the end of practice. Before, Russell watched practice while receiving treatment.

It appears the Lakers’ starting lineup appears unclear besides Young (shooting guard), Jose Calderon (point guard) and Timofey Mozgov (point guard). Walton admitted the Lakers coaching staff considered starting backup guard Marcelo Huertas in recent games along with Calderon to avoid disrupting the second unit. Instead, Walton decided to start Jordan Clarkson at shooting guard, rookie Brandon Ingram at small forward and sliding Luol Deng at power forward.

“This could all by my fault,” Walton said. “I wont give us the game in Oracle [where the Lakers lost by 43 points]. But we could be up 2-1 on the Warriors if I possibly listened.”

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Follow L.A Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mmedina@scng.com