Lakers Guard Marcus Smart Pops Dislocated Finger Back In During Fourth-Quarter Rally
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart briefly dislocated his surgically repaired right index finger during the fourth quarter of the team’s 108-103 comeback win over the Dallas Mavericks on January 24, 2026, at American Airlines Center.
Smart deflected a pass with just over five minutes remaining when the finger “popped out,” he told reporters after the game. Rather than leave the floor, the 31-year-old bent over, reset the joint himself and finished the contest.
“He didn’t want to come out of the game, so he just bent over and popped it back in,” Lakers reporter Mike Trudell posted on X (formerly Twitter). Smart said he would have the finger “wrapped and iced” immediately after the victory.
The veteran guard has been in the starting lineup since early January and has keyed Los Angeles’ recent defensive uptick, often drawing charges and pressuring opposing ball-handlers. Against Dallas, he added several clutch baskets while anchoring a late 17-4 run that erased a nine-point deficit.
Smart underwent surgery on the same finger last summer. Although minor injuries have forced him to miss occasional games this season, head coach Darvin Ham has repeatedly emphasized the guard’s value when healthy.
With the NBA trade deadline two weeks away, team officials are expected to explore roster upgrades, targeting additional two-way wings or interior defenders to bolster a unit that ranks in the league’s middle tier.
Smart, who has played through numerous ailments during his nine-year career, said postgame that the weeks before the deadline can be challenging for players as rumors circulate and roles remain fluid.
The Lakers improved to 25-20 with the win, while the Mavericks fell to 22-23. Los Angeles continues its three-game road trip Friday against the San Antonio Spurs.
Source: LakersNation.com
