Marcus Smart Eyes Consistency After Season-Best Shooting Night Against Spurs
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Guard Marcus Smart delivered his finest offensive outing of the season on December 10, draining eight three-pointers and scoring 26 points, but the Los Angeles Lakers fell to the San Antonio Spurs in the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals at Crypto.com Arena.
Smart, who had missed six consecutive games with a back injury, provided an immediate spark in his first appearance since late November. Despite his reputation as a defensive specialist, the 12-year veteran’s long-range accuracy kept the Lakers within reach throughout the 2025–26 tournament matchup.
“I trust the work I’m putting in,” Smart said postgame when asked about his outside shooting. “I can’t control whether the shot goes in or not, but I can control how I prepare. Tonight was my night, and hopefully it starts a trend for me to make shots consistently.”
Smart owns a career three-point percentage of 32.4%, yet has repeatedly shown a willingness to attempt timely shots in high-pressure moments. Lakers coaches believe steady perimeter production from the guard would relieve defensive attention on the team’s primary scorers and improve floor spacing.
Along with his shooting, Smart reported no lingering discomfort from the back issue that sidelined him for two weeks. “Physically, I felt good,” he said, an encouraging sign for a Lakers roster aiming to stay healthy as the regular season continues.
The Lakers will look for Smart to replicate portions of Wednesday’s performance—ideally a couple of made threes per game—while continuing to anchor the team’s defense with his energy, communication and leadership.
Source: Lakers Nation
