The Los Angeles Lakers will again be without Marcus Smart when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, the team announced in its latest injury report. The guard remains sidelined with a right ankle contusion and is set to miss his seventh consecutive game.
Jarred Vanderbilt is listed as questionable because of right calf soreness. Although Vanderbilt has fallen out of the regular rotation in recent weeks, his role could expand if he is cleared to play, given the club’s mounting injuries.
The Lakers have already ruled out Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (left oblique muscle strain) for the remainder of the regular season. Both players were injured during Thursday’s blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Head coach JJ Redick defended his choice to keep Doncic and Reaves on the floor after halftime of that game. “It was discussed at halftime,” Redick told Spectrum SportsNet. “We thought we’d give those guys about six minutes, and if we didn’t cut into the lead we were gonna pull them.”
With Smart, Doncic and Reaves all out, LeBron James will handle primary playmaking duties. Backcourt minutes and ball-handling responsibilities are expected to be shared among Bronny James, Kobe Bufkin, Dalton Knecht and Luke Kennard.
Smart resumed on-court activities earlier in the week, but the Lakers have chosen to proceed cautiously to avoid a setback. No timetable has been given for his return.
Source: Lakers Nation
