Marcus Smart is trending toward a return tonight against the Phoenix Suns, giving the Los Angeles Lakers a needed body at a time when every game carries playoff weight. He has not played since March 21 because of an ankle injury, and coach J.J. Redick said he was hopeful to have Smart back for this one.
The timing matters because LeBron James has been carrying a heavy load while Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are injured. Over the past two games, James has piled up 56 points, 26 assists and 17 rebounds, including 11 assists and 15 assists in those two outings, and he played 32 minutes Thursday before hurting his hand trying to block a shot. Last night, he stayed on the floor against Golden State and made three shots from distance, while also taking 11 three-pointers over the past two games.
The Lakers need the help to keep hold of the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. Phoenix is parked at No. 7, and the Suns are short-handed too, missing their starting backcourt including Devin Booker. That leaves both teams leaning on star power and improvisation, though Los Angeles is the side with the clearer race still in front of it.
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James has done plenty in this matchup already. In his three head-to-head meetings with Dillon Brooks this season, he posted three, four and six assists, and most player projections for his assists are below eight, with the top line at 8.1. That creates a test for a player who had been averaging around seven assists during the Lakers’ March run before Doncic got hurt.
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There is also a quieter edge for Los Angeles: the Lakers have been strong in the second game of back-to-backs, going 17-10 straight up and against the spread over the past two seasons and 8-5 against the spread this year. James has also been an all-court presence in the last two games, adding eight rebounds and nine rebounds, which is part of why the Lakers have stayed afloat while juggling injuries and seeding pressure. If Smart is cleared, the Lakers get a little more structure in a game that could shape the stretch run.
