Lakers list LeBron James questionable, rule out Marcus Smart for Thunder matchup
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The Los Angeles Lakers have designated LeBron James as questionable with left foot injury management and ruled Marcus Smart out due to a right ankle contusion for Tuesday night’s home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The club has four games remaining in the regular season and has already secured a playoff berth. James’ status is being monitored to preserve his health ahead of the postseason.
Smart has missed seven consecutive contests, last appearing on March 21 in a victory over the Orlando Magic. The veteran guard has been praised for his defensive intensity and secondary playmaking, factors that have become more important since Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique injury) were ruled out for at least the rest of the regular schedule.
Without Smart, Doncic and Reaves in Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks, guard Luke Kennard assumed a larger playmaking role and logged his first career triple-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists, though his shooting percentage suffered.
Oklahoma City arrives in Los Angeles on a surge, having defeated the Lakers by 43 points less than a week ago. Despite the Lakers’ effort to hold the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and secure first-round home-court advantage, head coach Darvin Ham may elect to prioritize recovery for several key players.
Source: Lakers Nation
