Marcus Smart was available for the Lakers’ home game against the Suns on Friday after being sidelined for the previous three weeks due to an ankle injury.
Smart was upgraded to available and taken off the team’s injury report Friday afternoon after being sidelined with a right ankle contusion he sustained during the March 21 road win over the Magic.
The 32-year-old veteran guard has started in 53 of 60 games he played entering Friday, including playing in 46 of 48 games before his absence due to his ankle.
The Lakers had missed Smart’s defense and ball-handling leadership while he was out, though Smart was often seen talking to players on the sideline or on the bench.
“He just naturally wants to help people,” coach JJ Redick said of Smart. “[Assistant coach Scott Brooks] and I talked a couple months ago, we were like, ‘He may end up being a coach.’ He likes speaking in front of the group. He likes teaching. It’s a really good quality. He’s been great for a number of our players and been great for a number of our young guys. It’s just his natural instinct.”
LeBron James was also available to play against the Suns, which was the second night of a back-to-back after Thursday’s road win over the Warriors.
Jaxson Hayes missed his third straight game, with his injury designation changing from left foot soreness to left foot injury management.
