The Los Angeles Lakers will head into Thursday nightâs matchup against the Golden State Warriors still dealing with significant injury concerns, as the regular season nears its conclusion.
Los Angeles is coming off a 123-87 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, a result that extended its losing streak to three games and highlighted the challenges of playing without key contributors. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves already sidelined, the Lakers have leaned heavily on their remaining rotation players to stabilize the team ahead of the playoffs.
That task became more difficult just hours before tipoff, as the Lakers announced that Marcus Smart would not play against the Warriors due to his ankle injury. The update comes after Smart had initially been upgraded to questionable, with head coach JJ Redick expressing optimism earlier in the week about a potential return. Redick said Smart was âtrending towards playing at some point this week,â but the team ultimately ruled him out for Thursdayâs game.
Marcus Smart Injury Status Leaves Lakers Shorthanded
Getty Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart
Smart will now miss his ninth consecutive game as he continues to recover from a right ankle contusion. The veteran guard has been an important part of the Lakersâ rotation this season, particularly on the defensive end.
In 60 games, Smart has averaged 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per contest while shooting 39.9% from the field and 33.6% from three-point range. His absence has been felt during this recent stretch, especially with the team already missing multiple starters.
The Lakers had hoped Smart could return during the final week of the regular season, with Redick noting his progress in on-court workouts. However, the team has taken a cautious approach with his recovery to avoid any setbacks before the playoffs.
Los Angeles (50-29) remains in the fourth seed in the Western Conference despite its recent struggles. The team cannot fall below the No. 5 seed, but its positioning is still fluid heading into the final games. With a matchup against the Warriors followed by games against the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz, the Lakers are using this stretch to manage health and evaluate available rotations.
LeBron James Still Active as Lakers Face Warriors
GettyLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James
While Smart will remain out, the Lakers will have LeBron James available for Thursdayâs contest. James returns after sitting out the Thunder game due to left foot injury management, providing a much-needed boost to a depleted lineup.
However, the Lakers will still be without Doncic, Reaves, and Jaxson Hayes, leaving James as the primary offensive engine. In a similar situation against the Dallas Mavericks earlier this week, James recorded 30 points and 15 assists, but the Lakers still lost.
The challenge will be significant against a Warriors team fighting for play-in positioning. Golden State enters the game with a 37-42 record and is locked into the No. 10 seed, but is still looking to build momentum before the postseason.
The Lakers, meanwhile, are trying to regain rhythm after a strong March stretch that saw them go 14-2 before injuries disrupted their momentum. With limited time left in the regular season, the focus has shifted to maintaining health and identifying players who can contribute in the playoffs.
Redick emphasized that approach earlier this week, stating the team must âprepare our group that weâre going to have available to play in the playoff seriesâ and determine who will be part of the postseason rotation.
Thursdayâs game in San Francisco will be another test under those conditions, with Los Angeles continuing to navigate injuries while trying to stabilize ahead of the playoffs.
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