Marcus Smart Gives Lakers a Scare on Christmas, Then Delivers a Gritty Reminder of His Value
Christmas Day at Crypto.com Arena was supposed to be about star power and statement wins. Instead, for a few tense moments, it became about something else entirely: Marcus Smart’s right arm - and whether the Lakers’ defensive engine had just suffered a major setback.
Midway through the game against the Houston Rockets, Smart hit the deck hard and immediately grabbed at his shoulder. Then came the sight no team wants to see: the veteran guard sprinting to the locker room, his right arm hanging in a way that looked anything but good. For a Lakers squad that’s leaned heavily on Smart’s toughness and defensive leadership this season, the moment felt like a gut punch.
But in classic Marcus Smart fashion, he wasn’t down for long.
After what looked like a potential season-altering injury, Smart returned to the floor - bruised, maybe, but not broken. And just like that, the Lakers and their fans exhaled.
Before the scare, Smart had already been doing what he does best: making winning plays that don’t always show up in the box score. He picked off a pass from Rockets big man Alperen Sengun for a steal and finished a tough driving layup in the second quarter. It was vintage Smart - reading the floor like a chessboard, jumping passing lanes, turning defense into offense.
That’s been his calling card all year. Heading into the game, Smart was averaging 1.6 steals per contest, and his impact goes far beyond the numbers.
He’s the guy who dives on loose balls, fights through screens like they owe him money, and holds teammates accountable on both ends. The Lakers didn’t bring him in to put up flashy scoring lines - they brought him in to be the defensive heartbeat.
And he’s delivered.
So when he went down, it wasn’t just about losing a player - it was about losing the identity he’s helped shape for this team.
Thankfully, that worst-case scenario didn’t come to pass. Smart’s return was more than just a physical comeback - it was a message.
He’s not just tough. He’s relentless.
And for a Lakers team with championship aspirations, that kind of mentality is invaluable.
The Lakers dodged a major bullet on Christmas. Now, it’s about keeping Smart healthy and on the floor - because when he’s out there, this team plays with a different edge. And come playoff time, that edge might be the difference between a deep run and an early exit.