Lakers list Marcus Smart day-to-day after MRI reveals no significant back damage
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Los Angeles, CA — Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart is considered day-to-day with back tightness after an MRI showed no structural problems, head coach JJ Redick said on Friday.
Smart, 31, was scratched from Wednesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns and has now missed three consecutive contests. Redick explained that the veteran began feeling tightness before a game last week, played through it, then experienced increased discomfort the following day.
“He got imaging. Imaging was unremarkable; it looked like a normal 11-year NBA veteran,” Redick told reporters. “We’re not concerned long-term. It’s a day-to-day thing.”
The Lakers have shuffled their rotation in Smart’s absence, but the guard’s time on the sideline has coincided with a dip in the team’s defensive efficiency. Smart’s playmaking and on-court leadership are considered key components of the club’s scheme on both ends.
Los Angeles enters a stretch that features several playoff-caliber opponents. Redick did not set a target date for Smart’s return but said the team expects him back “soon.”
Source: LakersNation
