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Tag: Marcus Smart

  • Lakers Eliminated From NBA Cup After 132–119 Loss to Spurs

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    Center Victor Wembanyama missed the Lakers game with an injury despite the Spurs victory

    The Lakers are eliminated from the NBA Cup quarterfinal.

    But despite the loss, forward and future NBA Hall of Famer LeBron James doesn’t want to look ahead to what the defeat implies about the playoffs.

    “I can’t think about what we can do in the playoffs in December. What I can say is that the habits that we built throughout the regular season each month, if we are in a position to make it to the postseason and be able to get to that point, well, we have to build it now. But as far as talking about what type of damage we’re gonna do in the postseason in December, that’s not right for the basketball gods, not for me,” James said.

    A first-quarter lead the San Antonio Spurs built proved to be insurmountable for the Los Angeles Lakers as the squad fell 132-119 on Wednesday in San Antonio at the Frost Bank Center. The Spurs finished the first up nine, the half up 12, and the third quarter up 17 – with the largest lead culminating at 24 – resulting in the Spurs’ 13-point win.

    The San Antonio Spurs’ victory was particularly notable considering the squad was without center Victor Wembanyama, who is averaging 26.2 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game on a 47.3% field goal percentage through 12 games of the 2025-2026 campaign.

    In his place, guard and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle paced the Spurs with 30 points while shooting 10-for-14 from the field and 50% from beyond the arc.

    Three of the Spurs’ starters garnered double-digits, with backcourt tandem De’Aaron Fox ranking second on the team in points with 20, including knocking down four 3-pointers.

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    On the other side of the hardwood, guard Luka Dončić paced the team with 35 points, his ninth straight 30-plus point performance of the season. James followed behind Dončić with 19 points while shooting 50% from the field, continuing to illustrate that he has gas in the tank after a string of struggling performances.

    The most notable difference between the two teams came down to contributions from the bench. The Spurs reserves outscored the Lakers 48-31 from the bench, with guard Marcus Smart adding 26 of the Lakers’ 31 from the pine. Smart’s performance marked his first game back from injury, illustrating a key backcourt addition the Lakers have in their reserves.

    Meanwhile, the Spurs posted three double-digit scorers from the bench, including Keldon Johnson, Dylan Harper, and Julian Champagnie.

    After the defeat, the Lakers will embark on a four-game road trip that will start in Phoenix on Sunday and end again against the Suns on December 23rd.

    The Lakers are 17-7 in the NBA’s Western Conference and sit in fourth in the conference, 6.5 games back from the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.

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    Connor Dullinger

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  • Lakers Get Marcus Smart Back for Critical NBA Cup Quarterfinal

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    Back from a lumbar strain, Smart’s return boosts L.A.’s defense heading into a high-stakes matchup with the Spurs

    Guard Marcus Smart returned to full practice Tuesday, ending a six-game absence due to a left lumbar strain, and signaled that he expects to suit up for Wednesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal against San Antonio.

    “Back’s feeling good,” Smart said after practice. “Felt good in practice today. So we did some tests, passed the tests. We’re going to give it a shot tomorrow. See how it feels.” (ABC7)

    Smart’s presence could be significant. This season, he has averaged 9.3 points, 2.9 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals — contributions that, when combined with his defensive instincts, can shift momentum in a tight Cup game.

    The Lakers return to action knowing the stakes are high. A win pushes them into the semifinals in Las Vegas and keeps their Cup hopes alive. Tough competition awaits; San Antonio may welcome back star center Victor Wembanyama, a formidable presence when healthy.

    L.A. coach JJ Redick emphasized defense in practice, especially preparation for Wembanyama’s size and skill set. He called the matchup “a challenge” and said the team must “make everything uncomfortable” defensively.

    With Smart back and the defense sharpened, the Lakers aim to reclaim momentum. For Smart, the comeback is about more than just minutes; it’s about setting the tone. For the team, it’s an opportunity to prove they can compete under pressure when it matters most.

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    Anthony Gutierrez

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  • Leonard, George lead Clippers over NBA-best Celtics, 113-93

    Leonard, George lead Clippers over NBA-best Celtics, 113-93

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    LOS ANGELES — Kawhi Leonard came to the bench with a message for his Los Angeles Clippers teammates.

    “Told the guys, ‘Let’s get out and run, let’s play faster,’” coach Tyronn Lue said.

    Behind 26 points from Paul George and Leonard’s season highs of 25 points and nine rebounds, the Clippers routed the NBA-leading Boston Celtics 113-93 on Monday night.

    “When your two best players come back, that’s a lot of energy,” Lue said.

    The Clippers’ defense held the Celtics under 100 points for the first time this season.

    “We did a great job pretty much across the whole board,” George said.

    Leonard also had six assists in his best all-around game of a young season that has been interrupted at times while he eases his way back from ACL surgery that cost him all of last season.

    “Only my ninth game,” Leonard said. “You can’t rush it. Yeah, just got to keep moving.”

    George has been hurt, too, although unlike Leonard, he’s no longer under a minutes restriction.

    “We’re still trying to figure out how we’re going to play on the court with one another,” George said. “It’s just good if both of us are playing aggressive.”

    Jaylen Brown scored 21 points to lead the Celtics, who dropped two in a row for only the second time this season. They had won eight of 10, including a loss at Golden State on Saturday. Jayson Tatum added 20 points — well below his 30-point average — and 11 rebounds, and Malcolm Brogdon had 18 points off the bench.

    “We made a conscious effort to make sure Tatum and Brown played in a crowd all night,” Lue said.

    Having the Celtics and their 21-7 record in town drew one of the Clippers’ biggest crowds of the season and created a playoff-like atmosphere. Boston fans showed out in the same colored gear as Marcus Smart’s green-hued hair.

    But the Clippers made most of the noise.

    Coming off a 2-2 East Coast trip, Los Angeles used a few big runs and solid defense to control the first half and take a 56-47 lead at the break.

    Leonard and George came out shooting to start the third. They each hit a 3-pointer while combining for 13 straight points that extended the lead to 69-55. Luke Kennard came off the bench and keyed a 7-0 run late, hitting a 3 before John Wall’s jumper put the Clippers ahead 88-72 going into the fourth.

    George and Leonard combined for seven straight points in the fourth and Kennard kept hitting, too, pushing the Clippers’ lead to 104-80.

    “How he played was huge, just seeing him get his rhythm back,” Lue said of Leonard. “The last couple games just playing with more pace. He’s been feeling good.”

    The biggest roar came when Smart missed a pair of free throws, ensuring fans free chicken sandwiches. Smart finished with three points and five fouls.

    George and Leonard were part of the Clippers’ 17-8 spurt in the second. Los Angeles ran off 11 points in a row as part of a 20-3 burst in the first.

    TIP-INS

    Celtics: Al Horford (personal reasons) is expected to rejoin the team when it returns home this weekend. … Former Clipper Blake Griffin started in Horford’s place. He picked up a technical foul in the second quarter for grabbing the net.

    Clippers: Norman Powell (left groin strain) is progressing well in individual workouts, but there’s no timetable for his return. … Ivica Zubac was a game-time decision to start after experiencing right groin soreness in Saturday’s game. He had four points, three rebounds and five fouls in 17 minutes.

    UP NEXT

    Celtics: At the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday in the second game of a back-to-back on Boston’s second-longest road trip of the season.

    Clippers: Host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday in the second of five straight home games.

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    AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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