EL SEGUNDO – After nursing soreness in his left knee in recent days, Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell seemingly checked all the boxes to return to the lineup. He completed pregame warmups without limping. The team’s training staff determined he felt fine enough to play. So did Russell.

But in the Lakers’ 118-110 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night at Staples Center, Russell scored just eight points by mostly relying on jump shots and 3-pointers. Two of his three baskets were 3-pointers and nine of his 11 shots were from 3-point range. Though Russell also collected seven assists, he acknowledged some of the lingering pain prompted him to play above the perimeter.

That’s not how Lakers coach Luke Walton wants Russell to approach the game.

“We want him to push and be aggressive,” Walton said. “You can’t play at this level by favoring it. If that’s the case where it hurts, then we need to shut him down until he’s healthy. The league is too good only to go halfway and show some of the stuff that you can do because you’re concerned that something might hurt.”

Walton sat Russell during Monday’s practice in hopes to preserve him for when the Lakers (7-7) play host to Oklahoma City (8-6) on Tuesday at Staples Center. With Russell telling Walton his left knee “feels about the same” after Sunday’s loss to Chicago, the Lakers have listed Russell as questionable to play against the Thunder.

“I thought he was favoring it a little bit,” Walton said. “I don’t know if he was hurt or it was in his head. But it felt like he was floating around the perimeter more than normal.”

TAKING OWNERSHIP

No one is certain how long it will take for the Lakers to thrive defensively. They rank 27th out of 30 NBA teams in points allowed (109.6), and they have started looking inward. Lakers forward Julius Randle described his defense against Chicago’s Taj Gibson as “terrible.” Lakers reserve forward Larry Nance Jr. suggested both he and reserve forward Tarik Black could take on a larger shot-blocking role.

Walton considers Randle’s self-assessment a tad harsh, but he liked the mindset.

“We don’t want them to be too hard on themselves. But we want them to be critical of themselves,” Walton said. “We want them to take more ownership. If we have defensive coverages and they’re out there and something is not working, we want them to be given the freedom as a group to make that change and guard it differently.”

Though the 6-foot-9, 250-pound Black modestly downplayed his shot-blocking abilities, he appreciated Nance’s assessment.

“He’s saying that’s what we can do to become a better team,” Black said of Nance. “I agree.”

GIVING THANKS

Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson helped distribute turkey to about 325 families at a Salvation Army in Inglewood on Monday. Clarkson partnered with the Lakers, East West Bank and his own foundation for the event.

“That’s the best part about it, seeing the faces, smile and joy,” Clarkson said. “That’s the best part of being an athlete, seeing the reaction of people. It’s real cool.”

INJURY UPDATE

Lakers center Ivica Zubac practiced Monday, but is listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game because of a sprained right ankle. … Randle wore a heat pack after he was collided with a teammate’s knee during Monday’s practice.

Contact the writer: mmedina@scng.com