Marcus Smart is back in the fight. I have confirmed the Lakers guard has been cleared to practice after a left lumbar strain and is expected to be available for the NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Spurs. The team still lists him day to day. The stakes could not be higher, and his return could swing the game.
Cleared to Practice, Eyes on the Cup
Smart missed six games with the lower back issue, first labeled as spasms, then identified as a lumbar strain. He moved through the final round of tests, and the medical staff signed off on practice clearance. The plan, as I’m told, is cautious. The Lakers want his defense, but not at the cost of a setback.
Smart signed a two-year, 11 million dollar deal with Los Angeles in July. He has averaged 9.3 points, 2.9 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.8 steals this season. The numbers are steady, but his value lives on the other end. He was the 2021 to 22 Defensive Player of the Year and has made three All-Defensive teams. That pedigree matters tonight. [IMAGE_1]
Smart is cleared to practice and is expected to be available for the quarterfinal, but he remains day to day.
The Fix the Lakers Need on Defense
The Lakers have slipped to 21st in recent defensive rating at 116.2. The film shows the issues. Slow point-of-attack resistance. Too many clean catch-and-shoot looks. Rotations a step late. Smart helps solve all three.
He brings edges that travel in a knockout game. He races over screens. He calls out coverages early. He sets a tone with his chest, his voice, and his timing. That voice has been missing the past two weeks. With him, coach JJ Redick can lean into more switching and aggressive stunts without surrendering the paint.
What Smart Changes Right Away
- On-ball pressure that shrinks the Spurs’ dribble lanes
- Cleaner scrambles after pick-and-roll traps
- More deflections that feed the Lakers’ transition game
- A trusted closer for final three minutes
Expect the Lakers to pick up higher, switch second actions, and peel help early to cut off drives.
Spurs Matchups and the Smart Assignment
San Antonio brings length and pace, and they space the floor around their young star in the middle. Smart’s first job sits on the perimeter. He will see time on Tre Jones to break the set before it starts. He will check Devin Vassell in key stretches to bother movement shooting. He will tag into the nail against drives, then recover to shooters.
This is where Smart’s hands matter. He turns clean catches into 50-50 plays. He flips possessions with quick digs, then quick exits. That is how you beat a young team in a knockout. You speed their decision tree and take away first reads.
The Lakers will still lean on their size at the rim. Smart’s value is at the point of attack, but it also shows up off the ball. He is one of the league’s best at timing late help and getting back. That skill should cut off back cuts that have stung Los Angeles. [IMAGE_2]
Minutes, Rotation, and Risk
No one inside the building wants to rush a back. This will be a managed ramp. Expect short stints, frequent check-ins, and a clear trigger to sit if the back tightens. If the Lakers push deeper into the night, his closing role could grow, if he responds well.
The guard rotation adjusts around him. Gabe Vincent and Austin Reaves can slide to off-guard more often. That keeps fresh legs on shooters and reduces foul risk. It also lets the Lakers keep a defensive anchor on the floor in almost every lineup.
Backs are unpredictable. If Smart feels any tightness, the plan is to dial back quickly, even in a knockout setting.
What To Watch Tonight
- First five minutes, does Smart pick up 94 feet
- Spurs’ first counters to ball pressure, especially empty-corner actions
- Lakers’ deflection count and live-ball turnovers forced
- Smart’s movement on second efforts after screens
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Marcus Smart playing tonight?
A: He has been cleared to practice and is expected to be available, but he remains day to day.
Q: What was the injury?
A: A left lumbar strain. It was first described as back spasms, then updated after further evaluation.
Q: How many games did he miss?
A: He missed six straight games while managing the back issue.
Q: How will the Lakers manage his minutes?
A: Short bursts, close monitoring, and a quick pull if any tightness appears. His closing minutes depend on how he responds.
Q: Why does his return matter so much?
A: The Lakers’ defense slid in his absence. Smart’s on-ball pressure and leadership can reset their identity in a single game.
Smart’s return is timely and risky, and that is the math of a cup game. The Lakers need his edge to advance. If his back holds, the defense should look sharper, louder, and faster. If it does, the path to the semifinal just opened.
