<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-marcus-smart-turns-into-stephen-curry-with-barrage-of-3s-vs-spurs');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers’ Marcus Smart turns into Stephen Curry with barrage of 3s vs. Spurs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Lakers-point-guard-Marcus-Smart.jpg"><figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Lakers’ Marcus Smart turns into Stephen Curry with barrage of 3s vs. Spurs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T06:21:05-08:00">December 11th, 6:21am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T08:50:33-08:00">December 11th, 8:50am</time><address><a>Gerard Angelo Samillano</a>Gerard Angelo Samillano is an Associate Editor for ClutchPoints, with his focus primarily on the NBA, NFL, MLB and NCAA Football. When he's not writing for CP, Gerard can often be seen playing VALORANT or playing pick-up basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Occasionally, a random role player will suddenly pop off and have the game of a lifetime. Marcus Smart<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-marcus-smart-update-back-injury"> had missed the last six games for the Los Angeles Lakers</a> before their matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. Signed this offseason, Smart had provided good defense, but shooting had never been his strong suit.</p><p>Even before his time with the Lakers, though, Smart was always good for one insane shooting night. The Lakers got a taste of the good Marcus Smart experience in their game against the Spurs. The former DPOY had himself an insane shooting night, making eight three pointers as Los Angeles attempted a comeback against San Antonio.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">SMART CAN’T MISS!</p><p>Marcus Smart DRILLS his 8th three of the game 🎯</p><p><a href="https://t.co/V7IUN8g1DS">pic.twitter.com/V7IUN8g1DS</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1998989689672675805?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>Smart made seven of his eight triples in the second half, when the Lakers tried to rally from a 24-point comeback. Prior to the game, the bulldog point guard only shot 25% from three-point range. In this game, Smart shot 57% from three, finishing the game with 26 points, three rebounds, one assist, and one block off the bench.</p><p>Unfortunately, Smart and Luka Doncic’s (35 points, eight assists, five rebounds) efforts were not enough. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-jj-redick-rues-la-flaws-nba-cup-loss-spurs">Victor Wembanyama-less Spurs upset the Lakers</a> behind 30 points and ten boards from Stephon Castle and 20 points from De’Aaron Fox. With that loss, the Lakers have been eliminated from the NBA Cup. LeBron James added 19 points and 15 rebounds, but the Lakers’ bench outside of Smart was non-existent. In contrast, the Spurs got 17 and 16 points from Keldon Johnson and Justin Champagnie off the bench, respectively.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers’ Marcus Smart turns into Stephen Curry with barrage of 3s vs. Spurs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-marcus-smart-update-back-injury');   ga('set', 'title', 'Marcus Smart gets encouraging update amid back injury');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_0367.jpeg"><figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Marcus Smart gets encouraging update amid back injury</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-01T20:08:48-08:00">December 1st, 8:08pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-01T20:08:48-08:00">December 1st, 8:08pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>LOS ANGELES – Just as the Los Angeles Lakers got LeBron James back in the lineup, they lost <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/is-marcus-smart-playing-tonight-lakers-vs-mavericks-injury-report">Marcus Smart who has been dealing with a back injury</a>. Smart was set to miss his third straight game as the Lakers hosted the Phoenix Suns on Monday, but Lakers head coach JJ Redick was optimistic that the veteran guard would not be out for too long.</p><p>Prior to the Lakers’ game against the Suns, JJ Redick gave an update on Marcus Smart’s injury, including a potential timeline for his return to the lineup.</p><p>“He was feeling a little tightness, I guess it was three games ago. . .it tightened up after, was really tight the next day, the day before Thanksgiving, so we got imaging. Imaging was unremarkable, looked like a normal 11-year veteran. We’ve all gotten that MRI, so he’s there,” Redick said. “We’re not concerned long-term. It’s a day to day thing. I had a number of those week to week episodes during a stretch of my career when I played for the Clippers, and it would just pop up.”</p><p>“You would feel like you’re progressing, and then it would kind of plateau,” Redick continued. “So we expect him to be back soon. It’s not a long-term thing.”</p><p>Smart last played during the Lakers’ win against the LA Clippers last week, finishing with seven points, three rebounds, three assists, one steal and one blocked shot in 20 minutes of play. He is in first season with the Lakers after signing with the team in the offseason upon reaching a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards.</p><p>Redick has called Smart the quarterback of the team’s defense early this season, and by <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-marcus-smart-issues-grade-la-defense">Smart’s own admission, the Lakers’ defense has plenty of room for improvement</a>. In terms of the regular rotation players, Smart is <a href="https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/lakers-players-defensive-rating-this-season" rel="noopener">top-five on the team</a> in defensive rating with 115.1, as per StatMuse</p><p>Smart has appeared in 14 games so far, including nine starts, at a little over 26 minutes per game. He’s been averaging 9.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals with splits of 40.8 percent shooting from the field, 25.4 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 93.8 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>Although Smart’s percentages have been low, save for his free-throw percentage, his value to the Lakers goes far beyond his efficiency. Now in his 12th season in the NBA, Smart is the only guard since Gary Payton in 1996 to have won the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award.</p><p>The Lakers will have two days off after the Suns game, and with Redick saying Smart is essentially day to day, his next update will probably be on Thursday when the Lakers face the Toronto Raptors.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Marcus Smart gets encouraging update amid back injury

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/is-marcus-smart-playing-tonight-lakers-vs-mavericks-injury-report');   ga('set', 'title', 'Is Marcus Smart playing tonight? Lakers vs. Mavericks injury report');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Chris-Paul-3-beats-Los-Angeles-Lakers-guard-Marcus-Smart-36-to-a-rebound.jpg"><figcaption>© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Is Marcus Smart playing tonight? Lakers vs. Mavericks injury report</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-28T08:38:06-08:00">November 28th, 8:38am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-28T08:38:06-08:00">November 28th, 8:38am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-lebron-james-breaks-down-bronny-james-opportunity-with-la-this-season">Los Angeles Lakers (13–4) prepare for their final West Group B matchup</a> in NBA Cup play, the team has released its latest injury report ahead of Friday night’s meeting with the Dallas Mavericks (5–14) at 10:00 p.m. ET on Prime Video. The status of veteran guard Marcus Smart headlines the update.</p><p>The Lakers have listed Smart as <a href="https://official.nba.com/nba-injury-report-2025-26-season/" rel="noopener">questionable with back spasms</a>. The 31-year-old last played in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-dominant-win-over-clippers-reveals-blueprint-nba-championship-dreams">Tuesday’s 135–118 NBA Cup win over the Los Angeles Clippers</a>, finishing with seven points, three rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block while shooting 3-for-5 from the field in 20 minutes. Smart has been a fixture of the Lakers’ defensive structure early in the season, providing on-ball pressure and secondary playmaking in JJ Redick’s rotation.</p><p>Through 14 games, Smart is averaging 9.3 points, 2.9 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per contest while shooting 40.8 percent from the field. He has made nine starts and continues to serve as one of the roster’s most versatile backcourt defenders.</p><h2><b>Lakers list Marcus Smart questionable, Deandre Ayton probable ahead of NBA Cup clash vs. Mavericks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_0324_7f9347.jpeg"><figcaption>Kirby Lee-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-deandre-ayton-upgrade-injury-report-nba-cup-mavericks">Los Angeles also listed center Deandre Ayton as probable</a> with a right knee contusion. Ayton appeared in last <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-lebron-james-admits-why-sucking-wind-wild-jazz-game">Sunday’s 108–106 win over the Utah Jazz</a> but was limited to 13 minutes before exiting with the injury. The 27-year-old has been highly efficient to start the season, averaging 15.5 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting a career-best 69.6 percent across 15 games.</p><p>Ayton’s availability will be significant as the Lakers prepare to face former franchise cornerstone Anthony Davis, who is listed as questionable on the Mavericks’ injury report. Davis has not played since suffering a calf strain on Oct. 29 and is attempting to return for what would be his first game at Crypto.com Arena since being traded to Dallas last February.</p><p>The Lakers enter Friday’s matchup at the top of West Group B with a 3–0 record and a +36 point differential, having already clinched a spot in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. Dallas, meanwhile, sits at 1–2 in group play and continues to deal with injuries and on-court inconsistency during its 5–14 start.</p><p>Whether Smart is cleared to play will be determined closer to tip-off, but his defensive presence and experience would provide a meaningful boost as Los Angeles looks to close out group play on a high note.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Is Marcus Smart playing tonight? Lakers vs. Mavericks injury report

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-marcus-smart-issues-grade-la-defense');   ga('set', 'title', 'Marcus Smart issues early grade for Lakers’ defense');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_0344.jpeg"><figcaption>Rob Gray-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Marcus Smart issues early grade for Lakers’ defense</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-25T21:24:18-08:00">November 25th, 9:24pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-25T21:24:18-08:00">November 25th, 9:24pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>LOS ANGELES – Amid the Los Angeles Lakers’ 12-4 start to the season, they are among the middle of the pack when it comes to the defensive end. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-luka-doncic-guarantee-la-defense-11-4-start">Lakers’ defense could stand to get better</a>, but <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-jake-laravia-brings-juice-la-defense">the team has had a few strong individual defenders</a> this year, including Marcus Smart.</p><p>Lakers head coach has called Marcus Smart the quarterback of the team’s defense so far, a label that Redick often used to describe LeBron James’ effort defensively last season. As such, Smart generally has a good pulse of where the team’s defense is to begin the season, and where they can stand to improve.</p><p>Following Lakers’ practice on Saturday afternoon, Smart issued a grade for the Lakers’ defense through the first month of the regular season.</p><p>“For us, I think we have a long way to go, but we like where we’re going and the direction that we’re heading. I would probably say right now, we’re a B-. We kind of let some things slip,” Smart said. “We got to clean up a lot of things, but I like the direction we’re going. I like the attention to detail we’re trying to go into every game with, and trying to come out with an outcome of being a great defensive team.”</p><p>When it comes to defensive rating, Smart is <a href="https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/lakers-players-defensive-rating-this-season" rel="noopener">among the top-five</a> on the team in terms of regular rotation players with a rating of 113.5, as per StatMuse. He is the only guard in the last 30 years to have won the league’s Defensive Player of the Year Award since Gary Payton did so in 1996.</p><p>Smart has brought a level of toughness on the defensive end that the Lakers lacked last season. A purveyor of inspirational sayings, Smart has one quote in particular that he loves to use when talking about what it takes to be a great defensive team, and that is, ‘the toughest team sets the rules.’</p><p>“I live by that quote, and I think we see it every day,” Smart said. “When one team comes out and they’re more aggressive, everything goes their way. The way they get calls to the way that the ball falls, the way that they get loose balls and shots fall that probably wouldn’t fall and things of that nature.”</p><p>Smart signed with the Lakers in the offseason after agreeing to a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards. He’s appeared in 13 games, including nine starts, at a little over 27 minutes per game. He’s averaging 9.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Marcus Smart issues early grade for Lakers’ defense

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/marcus-smart-playing-lakers-bucks-injury-report');   ga('set', 'title', 'Is Marcus Smart playing tonight? Lakers vs. Bucks injury report');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_0315.jpeg"><figcaption>Brian Westerholt-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Is Marcus Smart playing tonight? Lakers vs. Bucks injury report</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-15T12:51:56-08:00">November 15th, 12:51pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-15T12:51:56-08:00">November 15th, 12:51pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Lakers visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night. Veteran guard Marcus Smart is on the injury report for the Lakers and is <a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2025-11-15_02PM.pdf" rel="noopener">listed as questionable</a>. Smart is dealing with an illness, and he did suit up during the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-luka-doncic-austin-reaves-offensive-explosion-pelicans">Lakers’ win against the New Orleans Pelicans</a> on Friday. Here’s everything we know about Marcus Smart being on the Lakers’ injury report, and his playing status vs. the Bucks.</p><p>“<i><b>*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV *</b></i>”</p><h2><b>Marcus Smart’s injury status vs. Bucks</b></h2><p>The Lakers are on the tail end of their road trip looking to finish with an above .500 record as they’ve gone 2-2 in the previous four games. With the Bucks being the final team the Lakers will face before returning home, they are going to be a little bit short-handed. While Rui Hachimura has already been ruled out for the second night of the back-to-back, as per the NBA’s official injury report, Marcus Smart is now listed as questionable due to illness.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/exclusive-what-marcus-smart-told-jj-redick-about-getting-lost-sauce-signing-lakers">Smart signed with the Lakers in the offseason </a>after reaching an agreement on a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards. In the early-goings of the 2025-26 season, Smart has been one of the Lakers’ most dependable players on both ends of the court.</p><p>Smart has appeared in 11 games for the Lakers so far this season, including nine starts, at a little over 29 minutes per game. He’s been averaging 10.2 points, 2.4 rebound, 3.4 assists and 2.2 steals with splits of 40.2 percent shooting from the field, 23.1 percent shooting from the three-point line and 93.8 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>While Smart’s shooting percentages may not be where they should be, his impact on the court for the Lakers has gone beyond the stat sheet.</p><p>Also in terms of injury, LeBron James made progress in his continued recovery as he was able to practice with the Lakers’ G League team in South Bay.</p><h2><b>Lakers injury report</b></h2><p>-Rui Hachimura; out (left calf soreness)<br>-LeBron James; out (right sciatica)<br>-Marcus Smart; questionable (viral illness)<br>-Gabe Vincent; out (left ankle sprain)</p><h2><b>Bucks injury report</b></h2><p>-Alex Antetokounmpo; out (G League assignment)<br>-Giannis Antetokounmpo; probable (left knee)<br>-Pete Nance; out (G League two-way)<br>-Kevin Porter Jr.; out (right knee surgery)<br>-Taurean Prince; out (neck surgery)</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Is Marcus Smart playing tonight? Lakers vs. Bucks injury report

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-marcus-smart-drops-jayson-tatum-admission-amid-injury-recovery');   ga('set', 'title', 'Marcus Smart drops Celtics’ Jayson Tatum admission amid his injury recovery');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Celtics-Jayson-Tatum-Marcus-Smart.jpg"><figcaption>Jerome Miron-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Marcus Smart drops Celtics’ Jayson Tatum admission amid his injury recovery</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-13T17:32:43-08:00">November 13th, 5:32pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-13T17:39:54-08:00">November 13th, 5:39pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>OKLAHOMA CITY — Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart reached out to Boston Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum amid his former teammates’ recovery from a ruptured Achilles. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jayson-tatums-2-word-social-media-message-injury-recovery">Tatum posted a recent update on social media</a>, reminding everyone he’s now six months removed from surgery.</p><p>Smart, who played alongside Tatum throughout the six-time All-Star’s first six seasons with the Celtics, revealed he’s spoken to Jayson, wishing him the best throughout his recovery.</p><p>“I talked to him a little bit,” Smart said. “I’m praying for him. Obviously, I hope he gets the resources he needs. Looks like he’s doing a good job with his rehab. You never want to see anybody in this league — any of our colleagues — go down the way that he went down. I want them to be on the court. So, we can go out there and perform, and everybody can do what they have to do to feed their families.”</p><p>After helping the Celtics to six Eastern Conference Finals appearances in eight seasons, Marcus Smart made his first and only NBA Finals appearance in 2022. Smart was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2023 before he was rerouted to the Washingon Wizards in a three-team deal just before last season’s trade deadline.</p><p>Smart agreed to a two-year, $11 million deal with the Lakers during free agency fter reaching a buyout with the Wizards.</p><h2><b>NBA analyst believes Celtics’ Jayson Tatum will return this season</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Celtics-Jayson-Tatum.jpg"><figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Based on a conversation he had with the six-time All-Star, NBA <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-rumors-chris-haynes-believes-jayson-tatum-return-this-season">analyst Chris Haynes believes we’ll see Tatum back</a> before the end of the regular season. Haynes <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1981151586903642617" rel="noopener">gave his honest opinion</a>, per NBA TV.</p><p>“Based off of what he texted me, I think we will see him at some point during the regular season. He told me he is working out three times per week, 45-minute sessions. He said he is 23 weeks out from when he underwent surgery and he’s feeling good,” he explained on NBA TV.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“I think we will see him at some point during the regular season.” 👀<a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChrisBHaynes</a> gives an update on Jayson Tatum’s progress on The Association. <a href="https://t.co/nRdk7a86fZ">pic.twitter.com/nRdk7a86fZ</a></p><p>— NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1981151586903642617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>From footage of Tatum sprinting to completing a two-footed dunk, all signs point to a successful recovery, thus far. While we could see a return in the latter half of the regular season, Tatum, if available, would most likely return toward the end of the 2025-26 campaign.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Marcus Smart drops Celtics’ Jayson Tatum admission amid his injury recovery

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/memphis-grizzlies/exclusive-marcus-smart-throws-shade-grizzlies-claiming-trade-started-downfall');   ga('set', 'title', 'Exclusive: Marcus Smart throws shade at Grizzlies while claiming trade started downfall');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Marcus-Smart-throws-shade-at-Grizzlies-while-claiming-trade-started-downfall-.jpg"></figure><h1>Exclusive: Marcus Smart throws shade at Grizzlies while claiming trade started downfall</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-13T10:20:50-08:00">November 13th, 10:20am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-13T10:20:50-08:00">November 13th, 10:20am</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>OKLAHOMA CITY — Before his trade to the Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart saw the writing on the wall throughout his final days with the Memphis Grizzlies. Minutes before the trade deadline, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-memphis-makes-marcus-smart-deal-wizards-beat-trade-deadline-buzzer">Grizzlies moved Smart in a three-team deal</a>. He finished the 2024-25 season with the Wizards before signing a two-year contract with the Lakers in free agency last summer.</p><p>Smart, looking back on last season, watched Grizzlies GM <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44456815/grizzlies-gm-takes-sole-responsibility-firing-taylor-jenkins" rel="noopener">Zach Kleiman fire coach Taylor Jenkins</a> with nine games left in the regular season — very uncommon for a playoff team weeks before the postseason. It was a telltale sign of an organization in flux, but did it make Smart feel any better about his trade to the Wizards?</p><p>“Way better. You see what’s going on now,” Smart tells ClutchPoints. “That started with me. I came back from injury, and I got traded because they said I didn’t want to be there. I’m injured. What do you mean, I don’t want to be here? I’m here every day working my a** off, cheering. I’m the only one on the bench coaching, but you know how it is. Control what you can control.”</p><p>It was an unfortunate ending for Smart and the Grizzlies, as the 12-year guard was looking forward to helping Memphis ascend amidst a competitive Western Conference.</p><p>“I wish nothing but the best for them. Those guys — they work their a** off,” Smart added. “But you could definitely see this coming, and now, this is what you get.”</p><p>Could you see the writing on the wall before last season’s trade deadline?</p><p>“You could see it. Even when I was there, me and Jake [LaRavia],” Smart replied. “You could see just how they were handling things, going about things. And it’s unfortunate — you’ve got some good talent over there. It’s unfortunate. Hopefully, they can get it together.”</p><p>The Grizzlies were swept, 4-0, in their first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.</p><h2><b>Marcus Smart’s trade leads to swift changes for the Grizzlies</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Grizzlies-Marcus-Smart-Ja-Morant.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Grizzlies’ end-of-the-season coaching change added a new wrinkle that carried into the regular season, as head <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-tuomas-iisalo-ja-morant-update" rel="noopener">coach Tuomas Iisalo’s clash with Ja Morant</a> is one of the biggest NBA storylines of 2025-26. Smart says he was accused of not wanting to be a part of the Grizzlies before his trade to the Wizards.</p><p>However, it doesn’t diminish the connections made in Memphis, playing alongside All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant. Smart is wishing the best for them and the rest of the Grizzlies this season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Exclusive: Marcus Smart throws shade at Grizzlies while claiming trade started downfall

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/exclusive-what-marcus-smart-told-jj-redick-about-getting-lost-sauce-signing-lakers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Exclusive: What Marcus Smart told JJ Redick about getting ‘lost in sauce’ before signing with Lakers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Lakers-Marcus-Smart.jpg"><figcaption>Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Exclusive: What Marcus Smart told JJ Redick about getting ‘lost in sauce’ before signing with Lakers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-13T08:32:10-08:00">November 13th, 8:32am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-13T08:38:42-08:00">November 13th, 8:38am</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>OKLAHOMA CITY — After reaching a buyout with the Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers’ Marcus Smart yearned for a winning environment ahead of the 2025-26 season, and pitched his case to head coach, JJ Redick. Following a 121-92 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-marcus-smart-doesnt-hold-back-on-thunder-blowout">Smart didn’t hold back on how Thunder dominated</a>. Still, he’s eager for the bounce back, as the 31-year-old guard believes in this year’s Lakers team reaching their full potential.</p><p>This is the opportunity Smart was asking Redick during free agency — a chance to be a part of a winning culture with championship aspirations. Smart looked back on his talk with the Lakers head coach, which led to Marcus signing a two-year contract.</p><p>“I got a lot left in the tank, just wanted him to know that I had that,” Smart tells ClutchPoints. “Unfortunately, I’ve just been on teams that kind of got lost in the sauce—teams tanking, team not on TV, smaller markets. So, for me, it’s getting back to making an impact on a winning team.”</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/grading-marcus-smart-lakers-contract">Smart signed a two-year, $11 million deal</a> with the Lakers. Starting in eight of his first 10 games, Smart he’ s averaging 9.9 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. Smart finished with nine points, one rebounds, and a steal in Tuesday’s loss to the Thunder.</p><h2><b>How JJ Redick saw himself in Lakers’ Marcus Smart</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Lakers-Marcus-Smart-2.jpg"><figcaption>Brian Westerholt-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Before facing the Thunder, coach JJ Redick revealed that Marcus Smart’s free-agency pitch to join the Lakers sounded a lot like a younger version of himself, as a player, making his pitch to coach Doc Rivers. Ahead of the 2013-14 season, Redick wanted to join the Clippers, who had finished with the fourth-best record (56-26) in the Western Conference the season prior.</p><p>Redick discussed Smart’s <a href="https://twitter.com/Joe_Sway/status/1988784849306673234" rel="noopener">pitch to join</a> the Lakers during his pregame media availability on Tuesday.</p><p>“It was a similar conversation I had with Doc Rivers when I was pitching to join the Clippers. I told Doc I needed to be a part of a winning team. I needed to be a part of a relevant team — that’s really important to me. For Marcus, starting his career in Boston, being in the NBA Finals, and being on a bunch of playoff teams that made these runs, he craves that as well.</p><p>“We’ve discussed it early, it’s been discussed since; that environment creates an opportunity for him to use his voice, which is another thing we talked about in free agency. Another thing we’ve talked about since is how he can help on the leadership side,” Redick concluded.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Lakers’ JJ Redick talks about how the pitch he made to Marcus Smart in free agency was similar to a conversation he had with Doc Rivers before joining the Clippers as a player</p><p>“I told Doc I needed to be a part of a winning team. I needed to be a part of a relevant team” <a href="https://t.co/UfhsTbGpQ1">pic.twitter.com/UfhsTbGpQ1</a></p><p>— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) <a href="https://twitter.com/Joe_Sway/status/1988784849306673234?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The Lakers will face the Pelicans on Wednesday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Exclusive: What Marcus Smart told JJ Redick about getting ‘lost in sauce’ before signing with Lakers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-marcus-smart-doesnt-hold-back-on-thunder-blowout');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers’ Marcus Smart doesn’t hold back on Thunder blowout');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Lakers-guard-Marcus-Smart-36-is-defended.jpg"><figcaption>© Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Lakers’ Marcus Smart doesn’t hold back on Thunder blowout</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-13T04:00:10-08:00">November 13th, 4:00am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-13T00:19:24-08:00">November 13th, 12:19am</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Lakers must have gone into their Wednesday night clash against the Oklahoma City Thunder with high hopes. After all, OKC was on the second night of a back-to-back, and they have the rest advantage coming off their Monday night win over the Charlotte Hornets. But then the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-luka-doncic-la-trolled-online-as-thunder-drop-the-hammer">Lakers proceeded to get punched in the mouth</a> — with the Thunder whooping them to the tune of a 121-92 demolition.</p><p>From the get-go, the Lakers received no mercy from the ruthless Thunder. OKC was forcing turnovers left and right, and the Purple and Gold could not respond. They resorted to too many difficult shots, and with both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves going through off shooting nights, there was no chance for the Lakers to put up much of a fight.</p><p>At the end of the day, all the Lakers could do was acknowledge the fact that they got ripped apart by the reigning champion Thunder. After the game, veteran guard Marcus Smart <a href="https://twitter.com/khobi_price/status/1988851979272003597" rel="noopener">just implored his team</a> to take this punch on the chin and move on.</p><p>“There’s nothing we can take away other than we got our ass kicked, and we got to bounce back,” Smart said, via Kobi Price of So Cal News Group.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Marcus Smart: "There's nothing we can take away. Other than we got our ass kicked, and we got to bounce back." <a href="https://t.co/nNsddrjbO1">https://t.co/nNsddrjbO1</a> <a href="https://t.co/XOHPP9KbUN">pic.twitter.com/XOHPP9KbUN</a></p><p>— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) <a href="https://twitter.com/khobi_price/status/1988851979272003597?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Indeed, over an 82-game grind, there’s no point in dwelling over a loss such as this. The Lakers are still 8-4 on the season, and they have not even gotten a single minute from LeBron James this season yet.</p><p>The Lakers will look to return to winning ways when they take on the New Orleans Pelicans in NBA Cup action on Friday night.</p><h2><b>Lakers endure nightmare outing against the Thunder</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Lakers-guard-Luka-Doncic-reacts-to-a-fan.jpg"><figcaption>© Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Lakers turned the ball over 20 times against the Thunder on Wednesday, and that is a recipe for disaster against the best defensive team in the association. Moreover, Doncic and Reaves combined to shoot 11-32 from the field, and it’s impossible for a Purple and Gold squad that relies too much on these two players to win whenever they shoot this poorly.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/celebrity/lakers-luka-doncic-reveals-true-feelings-on-lebron-james-return">Having James back would help a lot</a> with the Thunder matchup, as he will provide rim pressure, creating easier shots from the perimeter for LA.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers’ Marcus Smart doesn’t hold back on Thunder blowout

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-marcus-smart-reacts-to-luka-doncic-defensive-stats-vs-spurs');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers’ Marcus Smart was all of us when told about Luka Doncic’s ridiculous defensive stats vs. Spurs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Marcus-Smart-36-reacts-with-Los-Angeles-Lakers-guard-Luka-Doncic-77-during-a-time-out.jpg"><figcaption>© Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Lakers’ Marcus Smart was all of us when told about Luka Doncic’s ridiculous defensive stats vs. Spurs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-06T08:05:17-08:00">November 6th, 8:05am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-06T08:05:17-08:00">November 6th, 8:05am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-jj-redick-reveals-word-defined-la-season">Los Angeles Lakers extended their hot start to the 2025-26 season</a> on Wednesday night, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-what-marcus-smart-said-his-embarrassing-gaffe">edging the San Antonio Spurs 118-116</a> for their fifth consecutive win. While Luka Doncic once again carried the scoring and playmaking load, it was his defensive performance that stunned both fans and teammates — particularly Marcus Smart.</p><p>Smart, who finished with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists, a steal, and a block while shooting 10-for-10 from the free-throw line in 34 minutes, had a priceless reaction when told of Doncic’s defensive stat line. In a video posted by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin on X, formerly known as Twitter, Smart’s <a href="https://x.com/mcten/status/1986326890391757300" rel="noopener">disbelief quickly turned into celebration</a>.</p><p>“Luka had what? Five steals, two blocks… what?!” Smart exclaimed before adding, “Luka! Five steals, two blocks, baby I see you! DPOY baby!”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Marcus Smart was utterly shocked to hear that Luka Doncic had five steals and two blocked shots in the win over San Antonio. “Luka had what??” <a href="https://t.co/VqYl2REDwC">pic.twitter.com/VqYl2REDwC</a></p><p>— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcten/status/1986326890391757300?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>Doncic’s performance was one for the record books. The 26-year-old star tallied 35 points, 13 assists, nine rebounds, five steals, and two blocks while shooting 9-for-27 from the field, 4-for-11 from beyond the arc, and 13-for-17 from the line in 42 minutes. According to the NBA, Doncic became the first Laker to record at least 35 points, 10 assists, and five steals in a regular-season game since the league began tracking steals in 1973-74.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">LUKA MAGIC IN FULL EFFECT TONIGHT:</p><p>🪄 35 PTS<br>🪄 9 REB<br>🪄 13 AST<br>🪄 5 STL<br>🪄 2 BLK<br>🪄 4 3PM</p><p>The first Laker to record 35+ PTS, 10+ AST, and 5+ STL in a regular season game since 1973-74 (when steals were first fully recorded)! <a href="https://t.co/lZ37EcKSl3">pic.twitter.com/lZ37EcKSl3</a></p><p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1986335170232787088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Luka Doncic’s historic start powered the shorthanded Lakers past the Spurs</b></h2><p>Beyond that, Doncic continued to set statistical marks rarely seen in league history. Per OPTAStats, he became the <a href="https://x.com/OptaSTATS/status/1986330604179439928" rel="noopener">first player ever to score or assist on more than 310 points</a> through the first five games of a season. His 205 total points across that span also rank as the third-highest in NBA history for a player’s first five games, surpassing Michael Jordan.</p><p>Through the Lakers’ first nine contests, Doncic has been dominant on both ends, averaging 40 points, 11 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and two steals per game while shooting 50% from the field and 30.5% from three. His consistency has fueled Los Angeles’ best start since the 2019-20 campaign — a season that ended with an NBA championship.</p><p>What makes the Lakers’ early surge even more impressive is the adversity they’ve faced. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-luka-doncic-warning-nba-la-thrive-without-lebron-james">LeBron James remains sidelined with a sciatica injury</a> and is expected to return later this month, while Austin Reaves has missed the last two games. Doncic himself missed four contests earlier in the season, yet the Lakers’ depth and balanced contributions from players like Smart, Rui Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton have kept them rolling.</p><p>Los Angeles improved to 7-2 with Wednesday’s win and will now begin a five-game road trip starting Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks (4-4) at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBA TV. The trip concludes on November 15 against the Milwaukee Bucks, marking another key stretch for a team that continues to prove its resilience — and that even Luka Doncic’s defense can make Marcus Smart do a double take.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers’ Marcus Smart was all of us when told about Luka Doncic’s ridiculous defensive stats vs. Spurs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-what-marcus-smart-said-his-embarrassing-gaffe');   ga('set', 'title', 'What Lakers’ Marcus Smart said about embarrassing gaffe that almost blew game vs. Spurs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Smart-speaks.jpg"><figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>What Lakers’ Marcus Smart said about embarrassing gaffe that almost blew game vs. Spurs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-06T07:27:38-08:00">November 6th, 7:27am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-06T07:27:38-08:00">November 6th, 7:27am</time><address><a href="http://hoopnut.blogspot.com/">Enzo Flojo</a>Enzo Flojo is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints and a columnist for Asian basketball at FIBA. He brings a dynamic spirit and background, having expertise that spans writing, analytics, coaching, and broadcasting. He is also currently an Assistant Coach on Scouting &amp; Analytics for the Philippine national youth basketball team.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-la-survives-embarrassing-marcus-smart-blunder-spurs">Los Angeles Lakers escaped with a 118-116 win</a> over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, but veteran guard Marcus Smart made headlines for all the wrong reasons. At least he didn’t shy away from addressing it. In the game’s tense final seconds, Smart committed a costly blunder that could have undone the Lakers’ furious fourth-quarter comeback.</p><p>With just over a second remaining and the Lakers holding a narrow two-point lead, Smart attempted to inbound the ball to Rui Hachimura, only to step on the end line. He turned the ball over and handed the Spurs one last possession.</p><p>The miscue could have proved disastrous, but San Antonio couldn’t capitalize on Julian Champagne’s trip to the free throw line with 0.2 seconds left. It allowed Los Angeles <a href="https://www.espn.ph/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401810034" rel="noopener">to escape with the win</a>.</p><p>After the game, Smart took full responsibility for the gaffe.</p><p>“I take full ownership of it,” he said. “My teammates understand. They are going to joke with me. They are going to let me hear about it. But it will never happen again.”</p><p>The seasoned veteran didn’t mince words when reflecting on the play.</p><p>“As a 12-year vet, I can’t make that mistake,” he reiterated.</p><p>The Lakers certainly had to earn this victory. They erased a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit behind another stellar performance from <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-lebron-james-austin-reaves-disbelief-luka-doncic-move-spurs">Luka Doncic, who dropped 35 points</a> and orchestrated the comeback with clutch shot-making and poise. Deandre Ayton added defensive presence down the stretch, while Smart and Hachimura hit timely buckets to help Los Angeles regain momentum.</p><p>Smart’s near-meltdown overshadowed what was otherwise a resilient team effort. His response afterward, though, only reinforced his reputation as a leader who doesn’t hide from accountability. For the Lakers, that mindset might prove just as valuable as any late-game heroics.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

What Lakers’ Marcus Smart said about embarrassing gaffe that almost blew game vs. Spurs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-la-survives-embarrassing-marcus-smart-blunder-spurs');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers survive embarrassing Marcus Smart blunder in final seconds vs. Spurs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/LA-survives-embarrassing-Marcus-Smart-blunder-in-final-seconds.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Lakers survive embarrassing Marcus Smart blunder in final seconds vs. Spurs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-05T22:29:57-08:00">November 5th, 10:29pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-05T22:40:41-08:00">November 5th, 10:40pm</time><address><a>Paolo Mariano</a>Paolo Mariano is a freelance writer, editor, and producer based in Manila, Philippines. He is a journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas and the father of a young girl whose personality swings from Simone Biles to Dillon Brooks. A beacon of objectivity, he believes Penny Hardaway is the true NBA GOAT.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Marcus Smart probably had the biggest sigh of relief after the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-lebron-james-austin-reaves-disbelief-luka-doncic-move-spurs">Los Angeles Lakers escaped the San Antonio Spurs</a>, 118-116, at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday.</p><p>The Lakers were holding on to the precious two-point lead with only 1.2 seconds left in the game when Smart committed a <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1986313419746689313" rel="noopener">head-scratching inbound error</a>. He tried to quickly heave a fullcourt pass to Rui Hachimura but he clearly stepped on the line.</p><p>There was a collective groan among the fans, as Smart looked embarrassed with his crucial turnover.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Marcus Smart turns it over on the inbound pass with seconds left 😳 <a href="https://t.co/lJ04RNuDUU">pic.twitter.com/lJ04RNuDUU</a></p><p>— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1986313419746689313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Luckily for the Lakers, the Spurs didn’t capitalize in the ensuing possession, allowing the Purple and Gold to survive and extend their winning streak to five games and improve to 7-2.</p><p>San Antonio had the chance send the game into overtime after Julian Champagnie was fouled by Jake LaRavia with only 0.4 ticks left. Champagnie, however, missed his free throw. He intentionally muffed his second attempt, but the Spurs couldn’t tip it back in.</p><p>It was a hard-earned win for the Lakers, who were down by as much as nine points in the fourth quarter. They rallied behind a balanced attack, with multiple players contributing on both ends. They finally got the lead, 113-112, with 2:31 remaining after Luka Doncic buried a three-pointer.</p><p>Smart, Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton sank critical free throws to give the Lakers the nail-biting victory.</p><p>Victor Wembanyama, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/san-antonio-spurs/spurs-victor-wembanyama-posterizes-bronny-james">who posterized Bronny James in the first half</a>, fouled out with 1:40 remaining after charging into Hachimura.</p><p>Doncic had another all-around magic with 35 points, nine rebounds, 13 assists, five steals, and two blocks, while Ayton had a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds on top of two blocks.</p><p>Smart chipped in 17 points, five rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers survive embarrassing Marcus Smart blunder in final seconds vs. Spurs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-marcus-smart-lebron-james-chasedown-block-heat');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers’ Marcus Smart goes full LeBron James with monster chasedown block vs. Heat');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Austin-Reaves-Marcus-Smart.jpg"><figcaption>Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Lakers’ Marcus Smart goes full LeBron James with monster chasedown block vs. Heat</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-02T20:19:12-08:00">November 2nd, 8:19pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-02T20:19:12-08:00">November 2nd, 8:19pm</time><address><a>Paolo Mariano</a>Paolo Mariano is a freelance writer, editor, and producer based in Manila, Philippines. He is a journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas and the father of a young girl whose personality swings from Simone Biles to Dillon Brooks. A beacon of objectivity, he believes Penny Hardaway is the true NBA GOAT.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Lakers were looking for their third straight win as they hosted the Miami Heat at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-austin-reaves-bronny-james-excite-fans-alley-oop-heat">The Lakers employed a well-balanced attack</a> to take a double-digit lead, 77-63, at halftime. Five players—Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes, and Jake LaRavia—have already scored at least 10 points.</p><p>Marcus Smart, for his part, made his presence felt the way he knows best: Playing defense.</p><p>With 8:30 to go in the second quarter, the Heat went on the break, looking for a quick bucket. Jaime Jaquez Jr. looked like he had a clear layup, but Smart ran him down <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1985188922620600580" rel="noopener">for a chasedown block</a>.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Marcus Smart with the CHASEDOWN block on Jaime Jaquez Jr. 🔥<a href="https://t.co/HnLv2GfIys">pic.twitter.com/HnLv2GfIys</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1985188922620600580?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Somewhere out there, LeBron James was nodding in approval.</p><p>It was an impressive effort from the 31-year-old Smart, whom the Lakers acquired in the offseason to bolster their defense. The veteran guard has responded with his well-known grit, which has made him a Defensive Player of the Year and a three-time member of the All-Defensive First Team.</p><p>While Smart, who signed a two-year contract worth $11 million, has been hampered by injuries in recent years, he is still one of the best enforcers in the league.</p><p>He and Gabe Vincent could team up to serve as disruptors to the opposing team’s backcourt, a facet that coach JJ Redick is fond of.</p><p>The Lakers are still playing without LeBron James, who’s nursing a sciatica injury. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-player-shock-world-breakout-2025-26-season">Deandre Ayton also sat out</a> versus the Heat due to back spasms.</p><p>As of writing, Los Angeles is still leading Miami in the third quarter.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers’ Marcus Smart goes full LeBron James with monster chasedown block vs. Heat

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-marcus-smart-jaxson-hayes-upgraded-la-injury-report');   ga('set', 'title', 'Marcus Smart, Jaxson Hayes upgraded on latest Lakers injury report');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_0257.jpeg"></figure><h1>Marcus Smart, Jaxson Hayes upgraded on latest Lakers injury report</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-28T19:11:12-07:00">October 28th, 7:11pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-28T19:11:12-07:00">October 28th, 7:11pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off a tough, 122-108 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, a game in which <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-jj-redick-states-the-obvious-amid-lebron-james-luka-doncic-absences">they were missing five key rotation players due to injury</a>. The Lakers are set to embark on a brief, two-game road trip this week, and following the loss to the Blazers, head coach JJ Redick was hopeful that reinforcements would be on the way. Sure enough, both Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes were upgraded on the team injury report.</p><p>Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes are <a href="https://x.com/Dave_Yapkowitz/status/1983331894461902963" rel="noopener">officially listed as questionable</a> on the Lakers’ injury report for the first game of their road trip against the Minnesota Timberwolves. A final status update for both players likely won’t come until right before the game. Smart suffered a quad injury during the Lakers’ win against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, while Hayes sustained a knee injury sometime after the team’s season opener.</p><p>In the three games Smart has played in his Lakers debut, he’s averaged 7.7 points, 1.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 43.8 percent from the field. Hayes has only appeared in one game so far during which he finished with four points, six rebounds and one assist while shooting 66.7 percent from the field</p><p>Getting Smart back gives the Lakers an additional ball-handler to help relieve Austin Reaves of some of the playmaking duties, while Hayes gives the team a key backup behind Deandre Ayton.</p><p>Against the Blazers, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-austin-reaves-admit-tough-situation-stars-out">Lakers just didn’t have enough depth to keep up</a>. But despite the short-handed loss, Redick was pleased by some of what he saw.</p><p>“I took a lot away. Again, our half court defense was excellent, first shot defense was excellent,” Redick said. “For the most part. . .just a highly, competitive spirit and connected group. You can build on that.”</p><p>The Lakers begin their mini-road trip with a matchup against the Timberwolves on Wednesday, before concluding the trip against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Marcus Smart, Jaxson Hayes upgraded on latest Lakers injury report

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-marcus-smart-great-battle-anthony-edwards');   ga('set', 'title', 'Marcus Smart gearing up for ‘great’ battle with Anthony Edwards');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_0244.jpeg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Marcus Smart gearing up for ‘great’ battle with Anthony Edwards</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-23T23:08:53-07:00">October 23rd, 11:08pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-23T23:08:53-07:00">October 23rd, 11:08pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers welcome a familiar face on Friday in the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last season. One of the Lakers’ major issues during that series was their lack of a true defensive option on Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, but they believe they may <a href="https://x.com/Dave_Yapkowitz/status/1979402323777720522" rel="noopener">have an answer this season</a> in Marcus Smart.</p><p>Marcus Smart figures to be one of the Lakers’ primary options on defense against Anthony Edwards during their playoff rematch against the Timberwolves, and after team practice on Thursday Smart spoke about getting ready to match up defensively against one of the NBA’s brightest stars.</p><p>“He’s a big guard, it’s gonna take a full team effort. But my job when I’m on him is just try to make everything as tough as possible,” Smart said. “It’s gonna be a great battle. It’s gonna be physical He’s a great player, I’m a great defender. Like I said, my job is to make it as hard as possible for him.”</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-marcus-smart-intends-sign-la-wizards-buyout">Lakers acquired Smart in the offseason after he reached a contract buyout</a> with the Washington Wizards. He signed a two-year deal with the Lakers and figures to play a major role in the rotation. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-lebron-james-timberwolves-physicality-game-1">Timberwolves played a physical style of basketball</a> in the playoffs and the Lakers were unable to match that.</p><p>Enter Smart.  The 11-year veteran has built his career off of playing a physical brand of basketball. He is one of only guard to have won the league’s Defensive Player of the Year Award in the last 30 years since Gary Payton did so in 1995-96. It’s that physicality that he’s hoping to instill in the rest of the team this season.</p><p>“Lead by example. It’s kind of hard to put that fight in your guys if you’re not out there doing it,” Smart said. “So for me it’s all about if I’m gonna put up, I got to put up or shut up. I got to do it. If I want somebody else to follow my lead, I have to lead by example.”</p><p>Last season, Smart appeared in a total of 34 games, including seven starts, between the Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies. He averaged 9.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals with splits of 39.3 percent shooting from the field, 34.8 percent shooting from the three-point line and 76.1 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>In the Lakers’ season opener against the Warriors, Smart finished with nine points in 23 minutes while shooting 3-of-6 from the field. Overall, his minutes were solid and he showed glimpses of the defensive intensity he can bring.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Marcus Smart news

Marcus
Smart news