The Lakers could be getting a boost to their lineup for the NBA Cup on Wednesday night with Marcus Smart approaching a return. The former Celtics guard has missed the past six games due to a back injury, including a game in Boston on Friday night.
“Over the last couple days, he’s [gotten] closer,” JJ Redick told reporters earlier this week. “We were hoping he’s back Wednesday, but still day-to-day.”
The Lakers fell to the Celtics 126-105 at TD Garden without Smart, Luka Doncic and LeBron James in the lineup. Before the setback, Redick spoke about the impact that Smart has been making both on the floor and on the bench this year.
“We miss him,” Redick said about the veteran guard. “Smart challenged the guys [in win over Raptors] at the beginning of the fourth quarter that had to get every loose ball in that fourth quarter. I thought our defensive intensity and our ability to get stops and make multiple efforts, whether it was the chase down block, Ayton’s stop at the end, [Jake LaRavia] diving on the floor for a loose ball. They tried to make those multiple efforts and executed them well. We’re gonna be happy when Smart’s back in the lineup, whenever that is.”
The injury bug has bit Smart often again this season as he’s only appeared in 14 of the Lakers 23 games so far, including nine starts. He’s averaging 9.3 points, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game but his shooting has been a struggle, knocking down 25.4 percent of his 3-point attempts.
Smart’s been moved to the bench after LeBron James return from his back injury to begin the year, which has turned Smart into more of a defensive spark plug with his new team in a reserve role.
The Lakers will host the Spurs on Wednesday night in an NBA Cup quarterfinal matchup.
