Overview
- Smart returned after six games out with a back ailment for the quarterfinal against San Antonio.
- He finished with a season-high 26 points on eight made three-pointers and said his back felt good after the game.
- Los Angeles was eliminated from the Emirates NBA Cup with the 132-119 loss despite his second-half surge.
- Analysts view the shooting outburst as an outlier given his 32.4% career three-point mark and emphasize availability and defense as his key value.
- Postgame, Smart urged a defensive reset, pointing to communication and transition coverage as areas the Lakers must fix.