The Lakers head into Wednesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal against the San Antonio Spurs riding a wave of confidence and some of their cleanest health news of the season. After cruising through West Group B with a perfect 4-0 record, JJ Redick’s team now looks sharper and deeper than at any point in recent weeks.
Even better for LA, LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were all cleared for action, giving the Purple and Gold their full offensive core for a knockout game at home.
What really caught attention, though, was the sudden shift in the Lakers’ injury outlook. For the first time in this tournament run, LA fans received genuinely encouraging news regarding Marcus Smart. The former Defensive Player of the Year has been dealing with persistent back spasms, missing six straight games and raising some understandable concern about long-term durability.
Smart put all those doubts on pause on Tuesday. He practiced without restrictions and confirmed he will play against the Spurs. Speaking to reporters via Daniel Starkand, he explained the issue as simple accumulated wear and tear, adding that he has not carried this type of workload in years. Smart credited the Lakers’ medical staff for helping him ramp up while avoiding unnecessary downtime, saying everything now feels “great.”
I haven’t played in two years extensively and heavy the way that they wanted me to play here. So just kind of getting back into the groove of things, it’s common
Lakers injury updates: A big return meets a new question mark
While Smart’s comeback is massive for LA’s defensive identity, the Lakers did not escape the week entirely worry-free. Maxi Kleber, the versatile forward on a three-year, 33-million dollar deal, remains questionable with a lumbar muscle strain. Back issues have followed him since his Dallas days, and past ESPN injury reports suggest these flare-ups can linger longer than expected.
Even with that uncertainty, LA enters Wednesday night in strong shape. The team’s stars are available, Smart is back at full strength, and the home crowd at Crypto.com Arena is ready for a playoff-style atmosphere. A win would punch LA’s ticket to Las Vegas and keep their NBA Cup hopes alive.
The Lakers and Spurs tip off at 10 p.m. EST on Amazon Prime Video, Spectrum SportsNet LA, FanDuel Sports Network, and streaming platforms including NBA League Pass and Fubo.
The staff here has been doing a great job of managing it to the best of our ability but also making sure we’re not sitting out too long or not doing nothing to where it’s longer and it gets tighter. But everything has been feeling great
If the Lakers bring the same sharpness they showed in group play, this quarterfinal could turn into one of the standout matchups of the tournament.
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