The Los Angeles Lakers are listing LeBron James (left foot injury management) as questionable and Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) as out for Tuesday night’s home contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With four games to go in the regular season and a playoff spot already clinched, it makes sense to limit James’ workload to ensure he stays fresh and healthy.
Smart has missed the team’s last seven games with the injury, last suiting up on March 21 in the Lakers’ victory over the Orlando Magic. Smart has been lauded for his leadership and overall impact on the Lakers with his energy and defense on the court. He has shined as the team’s leader on that end of the court while also serving as a secondary creator and ball handler on offense.
He was already crucial to the success of the Lakers, but now Smart is needed even more with the loss of both Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique injury) for at least the remainder of the regular season. While there is no way to replace everything that Doncic and Reaves brings to this team, Smart is someone whom the team can turn to in terms of creating for his teammates once he returns.
With Smart out, in addition to Doncic and Reaves in the Lakers’ loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, guard Luke Kennard took on more of a primary playmaking role and did well, recording his first career triple-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists. He did, however, struggle shooting the ball so possibly having Smart back would help to alleviate some of the pressure on Kennard and, of course, James, especially when the latter is off the floor.
Either way, it will be an extreme uphill battle for the Lakers against the Thunder, who are clicking on all cylinders and just embarrassed L.A. by 43 points less than a week ago. Considering they are unlikely to win regardless, it wouldn’t be surprising to see James sit out, along with Smart, Doncic and Reaves.
With just four games remaining in the regular season the Lakers are trying to hold on to the three seed in the Western Conference and home-court advantage in the first-round of the playoffs. But that doesn’t trump health, which has plagued the Lakers already to end the regular season.
LeBron James had relatable reaction to Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves injuries
It was absolutely crushing for everyone to hear the news of the injuries that will keep Doncic and Reaves out for the rest of the regular season. And in talking about how he felt when first hearing the news, James was just like everyone else.
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