The Los Angeles Lakers will be without starting guard Marcus Smart and backup center Jaxson Hayes when they host the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night, the team announced.
Smart is dealing with a right ankle contusion sustained on March 21 in a win over the Orlando Magic. Although the veteran was upgraded to questionable earlier in the day, medical staff ultimately held him out, extending his absence to nine consecutive games.
Hayes will also sit due to soreness in his left foot. Both scratches come on the front end of a back-to-back; Los Angeles visits the Phoenix Suns on Friday, leaving open the possibility that either player could return then.
Smart’s importance has grown since entering the starting lineup, particularly after season-ending injuries sidelined Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique injury). Known for his perimeter defense and secondary playmaking, Smart’s presence has been a catalyst for the Lakers’ two-way execution.
LeBron James is available for the matchup, but fans will not see another showdown with Stephen Curry. The Warriors guard, newly back from a right knee injury that kept him out since January, will rest on Thursday.
With Smart, Doncic and Reaves all unavailable, Luke Kennard is expected to continue handling a larger share of the ball-handling duties alongside James. Head coach JJ Redick must also decide how to allocate backcourt minutes among Bronny James, Adou Thiero, Nick Smith Jr., Dalton Knecht and Kobe Bufkin as the postseason approaches.
Los Angeles enters the night looking to solidify playoff positioning despite a growing list of injuries that has already removed two of the club’s leading scorers for the remainder of the regular season.
Source: Lakers Nation
