Marcus Smart sits with ankle soreness as Lakers face backlash for mass rest in Spurs rout
Marcus Smart’s right ankle soreness became part of a wider flashpoint for the Lakers on Tuesday, Feb. 10 (ET), as the team held out its entire starting five and absorbed a lopsided defeat to the Spurs behind a 40-point burst from Victor Wembanyama.
The decision: All five starters sidelined
The Lakers withheld LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart from action at Arena, framing the night around health and recovery. James sat on the second night of a back-to-back, Reaves continued to be managed following a recent calf issue, and Doncic remained out with a left hamstring strain. Ayton was ruled out with right knee soreness, while Smart was held with a right ankle issue after tweaking it late in Monday’s game.
Coach JJ Redick emphasized a competitive mindset with the available roster, but the group struggled to match Wembanyama’s surge in a 136-108 loss. The Spurs star piled up 25 points in the first quarter and had 37 by halftime, dictating the game on both ends in just 26 minutes.
Smart’s status: Monitoring ankle soreness
Team guidance was that Marcus Smart awoke Tuesday with significant soreness in his right ankle after the late-game tweak the night prior, prompting the decision to sit him. The guard has been an every-possession tone-setter for Los Angeles this season, and his absence, combined with the rest of the starting unit, left the rotation without its top ball-pressure defender and on-court organizer.
Smart’s availability for Thursday, Feb. 12 (ET), against the Mavericks remains to be determined, with the team expected to reassess how the ankle responds to treatment and movement work. The Lakers have leaned on Smart’s edge and communication to stabilize lineups; even short-term caution reflects a priority on keeping him right for the stretch run.
Fan frustration boils over
The collective sit sparked outrage from fans who filled the building expecting marquee star power. Prominent voices amplified that frustration, with Stephen A. Smith labeling the move “disrespectful and insensitive and dismissive to the fans,” arguing that at least one of the headliners should have suited up. Chiney Ogwumike expressed sympathy for the injury management around James, Doncic and Reaves, but questioned the optics of shelving both Ayton and Smart on the same night.
The tension underscores a league-wide balancing act: protecting player health while meeting expectations for star availability. The Lakers, facing a compact schedule and multiple soft-tissue concerns on the roster, chose the side of caution — and paid for it in both the standings and the court of public opinion.
Wembanyama’s statement night drowns out the noise
While the controversy raged, Wembanyama authored a performance that felt inevitable from the opening tip. The 7-foot-4 phenom scored at will, hit from distance, and deterred drives simply by standing near the paint. The Lakers’ makeshift rotation had few answers for his shot-making or gravity, and the Spurs built a lead that ballooned early and never truly wavered.
For Los Angeles, positives were limited to flashes from role players asked to stretch into bigger parts. Luke Kennard and Drew Timme reached double figures, while Bronny James contributed playmaking in an elevated role. None of it offset the absence of five starters — especially a defensive hub like Smart.
Big-picture implications and what’s next
The ripple effects extend beyond one night. James’ absence pushed him below the 65-game threshold for postseason awards eligibility this season, ending an unprecedented streak of All-NBA selections. Doncic continues to ramp up and has been labeled day-to-day as he works toward a return. Reaves remains on a managed plan after his long calf layoff.
That leaves Smart’s ankle as a near-term swing variable. Even if the guard misses only a brief window, the Lakers’ defensive identity is tied closely to his presence at the point of attack and his ability to toggle assignments. With the Mavericks visiting on Thursday, Feb. 12 (ET), Los Angeles will want as many of its lead voices available as possible to steady a roster that just absorbed a very public bruise.
If Smart clears soreness and lateral-movement checks in the next 48 hours, the calculus around rotations and matchups changes quickly. If he needs more time, the Lakers will again ask their bench to carry an outsized load — and brace for another round of scrutiny over who suits up.
