LA’s game against San Antonio brought the return of Marcus Smart to the Laker lineup. Smart had missed the last six games due to a back injury, but he came back to play in the NBA Cup quarterfinal.
While Smart is known for his defensive ability, it was his offense that really stood out. Smart ended the game with 26 points, knocking down eight 3-pointers.
The last time Smart scored 26 or more points was against the Lakers when he was playing for the Grizzlies in the 2023-24 NBA season. He had 29 in that
game and also hit eight shots from beyond the arc in that contest.
Clearly, Smart found a groove and played well. But how did his back feel after playing for 28 minutes?
“When you’re out for a while…your winds a little tough,” Smart said postgame. “But, got going a little bit. Felt good. The back felt really good. Body felt good. I just wanted to bring a little spark for us. Try to do the best of my ability. And sometimes, you can do that and have games like this where you don’t win. All in all, everything for me felt good.”
Unfortunately, Smart’s effort didn’t result in a victory. The Lakers lost to the Spurs in blowout fashion, ending their NBA Cup run.
However, seeing him playing so well and hearing that he felt good should give Lakers fans some confidence that Smart can be available more moving forward.
Smart’s ability is a known quantity. For him, staying healthy and being as available as possible will be the key to success.
As a 12-year veteran, no one is expecting Smart to be an ironman or be anywhere near leading the Lakers in minutes or games played. He just needs to be available enough to make an impact and be a rotation player that head coach JJ Redick can rely on.
If he does that and is healthy for a potential postseason run, then Smart can have a good year in LA and help a defense that desperately needs him to raise their floor.
Hopefully, Wednesday’s game demonstrates what Smart can consistently bring to the Lakers, and his six-game absence will be the longest stretch of matchups where he is unavailable.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
