Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart has received the green light to return to practice after a two-week absence due to a back injury. This news comes as the Lakers gear up for their crucial NBA Cup quarterfinals showdown against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. Smart expressed optimism about his recovery, stating, “Back’s feeling good. Felt good in practice today. So we did some tests, passed the tests. We’re going to give it a shot tomorrow. See how it feels.”
The 31-year-old guard missed the Lakers’ last six games due to a left lumbar muscle strain. Smart, who was named Defensive Player of the Year in a previous season, is currently averaging 9.3 points, 2.9 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.8 steals for the Lakers after joining the team as a free agent over the summer.
In addition to Smart’s return, the Lakers are also preparing for the potential comeback of Spurs’ standout center, Victor Wembanyama. The 7-foot-5 rookie has been sidelined for the last 11 games due to a left calf strain but has been a dominant force when healthy, averaging 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks. Lakers center Deandre Ayton acknowledged the challenge of matching up against Wembanyama: “I’ll be doing as much as I can, but it’s a game plan where the whole team has to guard him. Just shut him down and make everything uncomfortable for him.”
In their previous encounter on November 5, the Lakers narrowly defeated the Spurs 118-116, during which Wembanyama managed just 19 points on 5-for-14 shooting. Since that match, the Spurs have welcomed back former All-Star De’Aaron Fox, who has contributed significantly to the Spurs’ resurgence with an average of 24.3 points and 6.5 assists over the past 15 games.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised Fox’s abilities, noting the importance of defending not just against him, but also against other dynamic players like Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell. Redick emphasized the need to contain drives and provides an effective defensive strategy to counter the Spurs’ mobile offense.
Wednesday’s matchup is a pivotal one for the Lakers following their perfect 4-0 record in the group stage of the NBA Cup. The outcome will determine if they advance to Las Vegas for the semifinals or face elimination. The stakes are high, as a victory would secure each player a shot at a $530,000 cash prize in the championship game, while a loss would mean they each walk away with $53,000.
Ayton reflected on the excitement surrounding the NBA Cup, likening it to a March Madness atmosphere. “I’m just happy for the fans,” he said. “Fans get to see a different part of the NBA, like it’s a March Madness type of vibe, and they come to see us play and we put on a show.” When asked about the Lakers’ chances of securing a second NBA Cup title, Ayton remained optimistic, stating, “Seeing where we are in the season, why not us?”
