The Los Angeles Lakers have ruled out Luka Doncic (personal reasons) and Marcus Smart (lower-back injury management) for Thursday night’s game against the Toronto Raptors.
Multiple reports say Doncic has traveled to Slovenia for the birth of his second child. The team has not announced a timetable for his return. With the All-Star guard unavailable, head coach JJ Redick is expected to lean more heavily on Austin Reaves and LeBron James to generate offense.
Smart will sit for a fourth consecutive contest while the Lakers monitor lingering back soreness. The veteran guard is averaging 9.3 points, 2.9 assists and a team-leading 1.8 steals this season. He recently underwent an MRI, and the club plans to proceed cautiously to avoid a long-term setback.
Thursday’s meeting in Toronto opens a three-game East Coast trip that continues with a back-to-back in Boston on Friday and a visit to Philadelphia on Sunday. The tight schedule could influence when Smart is cleared to return.
In Smart’s absence, Redick has turned to Dalton Knecht for additional scoring, though defensive lapses have followed. Jarred Vanderbilt is another option to bolster on-ball pressure and replicate some of Smart’s trademark energy.
The rest of the injury report is clean. James, who has been managing a chronic foot issue, is expected to play as Los Angeles begins one of its toughest stretches of the season.
General manager Rob Pelinka recently praised Smart’s impact beyond the box score, citing his vocal leadership and ability to raise the level of competition in practice. “He’s been really, really, really integral to our success,” Pelinka told Spectrum SportsNet.
Source: Lakers Nation
