Smart cleared to practice, hopes to play in Lakers Cup game

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart was cleared to practice Tuesday after being sidelined with a back issue the past two weeks, giving Los Angeles a defensive boost ahead of Wednesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal game against the San Antonio Spurs.

“The back feels good,” Smart said. “I felt good in practice today. So we did some tests, passed the tests. We’ll try it tomorrow. See how it feels.”

Smart, 31, missed the Lakers’ last six games with what the team called a left lumbar muscle strain.

The former Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 9.3 points, 2.9 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals for Los Angeles this season after signing as a free agent this summer.

Meanwhile, the Lakers were preparing in practice Tuesday for the potential return of 7-5 powerhouse dynamo Victor Wembanyama to San Antonio’s lineup. Wembanyama, who is averaging 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds and 3.6 blocks, has missed the Spurs’ last 11 games with a left calf strain.

“I’ll do everything I can, but it’s a game plan where the whole team has to guard him,” Lakers center Deandre Ayton said of Wembanyama. “Just shutting him up and making everything uncomfortable for him and that’s what we’ve been working on… just really keeping the focus on him on the defensive end and having our defense create our offense in transition.”

LA beat San Antonio 118-116 on November 5 and Wembanyama was relatively held in check, finishing with 19 points on 5-of-14 shooting, 8 rebounds and 5 turnovers while fouling out.

Since that game, the Spurs have returned former All-Star De’Aaron Fox to the lineup and have gone 10-5 in their last 15 games, with Fox averaging 24.3 points and 6.5 assists.

“He’s obviously a very dynamic guard,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said of Fox. “You have to do a good job of containing the readers. And it’s not just him. Their guards. [Stephon] Castle…obviously when [Devin] Vassell starts dribbling and not only putting pressure on the rim but also on his jump shots, those are good moves. … They have good players on their team and so it’s going to be a challenge. And Fox is, he’s one of the best goalies in the league. »

After a 4-0 record in the group stage of the NBA Cup, Wednesday’s match is do or die. Win and your team will travel to Las Vegas for the semifinals on Saturday and a chance to win the $530,000 per player cash prize in the championship game. Lose, your team is eliminated and each player wins $53,000.

“I’m just happy for the fans,” Ayton said of the challenge the Cup presents. “The fans get to see a different side of the NBA, like it’s a March Madness type atmosphere, and they come see us play and we put on a show.”

And as for Los Angeles’ chances of winning its second NBA Cup title in three years of existence? Ayton said: “Given where we are in the season, why not us?