Marcus Smart shared insights on the Lakers’ 127-125 overtime victory against the Denver Nuggets Saturday at Crypto.com Arena, highlighting teamwork and execution.
He explained his guidance to Austin Reaves during a crucial free throw sequence: “I told him to miss it. I said, ‘Listen, don’t go up there, don’t do your routine. Soon as you get the ball, one dribble if anything, but shoot it quick. Nobody’s expecting it. They won’t have time to time it up and just make a read.’ And he made the good read to the single side.”
Smart praised Deandre Ayton’s impact in crunch time, noting, “He was huge. I think he had what, nine rebounds total, four off offensive, five defensive and then the lay block and just his energy… he stayed with it and controlled his pain on both ends tonight. So, we’re very proud of him.”
Reflecting on his own late-game contribution, Smart said, “Felt good, man. Felt good for my teammates to believe in me… it speaks to our team, it speaks to me, it speaks to those guys and how willing they are to trust each other… to have another chance to redeem yourself felt good.”
The veteran guard emphasized the significance of these tight contests for playoff preparation: “These games are playoff-type games… to be able to get battle tested like that early, we know what to expect and I think it’s only going to help us.”
Smart also highlighted the arena’s atmosphere: “It was awesome. That’s what you play for… you put the work in every day to go out there and have to see those fans screaming… you want to put on a show for them.”
On maintaining focus during high-pressure moments, he added, “I would say just experience. I’ve been doing this for 12 years… when I leave that court, I left it all on the court. For me, this is a normal day. My teammates needed me to do my job and I’m going to go out there every night and try to do my job.”
Smart reflected on lessons from a previous loss to Denver: “It just allowed us to look to see things differently… they really expose a lot of your weaknesses and force you to adapt. Being able to adapt on the fly… we got the result we wanted.”
Defensively, Smart acknowledged the challenge posed by Nikola Jokic: “It was definitely a challenge. We tip our hats off to Jaxson, DA, Rui, and everybody else who guard him… to be able to adjust on the fly, throw different looks at him, it just speaks to the values about the team, the chemistry that we’re building with the coaching staff.”
With the Lakers now 42-25 and riding a five-game winning streak, Smart’s remarks underscored both preparation and trust as the team moves closer to the playoffs.
