Luka Doncic, Marcus Smart receive hopeful update prior to Lakers’ NBA Cup battle vs. Grizzlies

After missing out on the Los Angeles Lakers’ previous three contests due to a finger sprain and leg contusion, Luka Dončić took a massive step towards returning to action on Friday.

Los Angeles’ 26-year-old superstar, along with the franchise’s important summer free agent signing Marcus Smart were recently given a new injury update as the team prepares for their first NBA Cup group play outing against the Memphis Grizzlies.

With their rising star Austin Reaves managing to hold down the fort in Dončić’s absence for a few games, he may now be re-joined by the 5-time All-NBA First Team selection for their tournament-opener, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

“Luka Doncic and Marcus Smart have been both upgraded to probable for tonight’s game in Memphis, per the Lakers,” McMenamin shared via X/Twitter on Friday afternoon.

With both Dončić and 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Smart likely to make their anticipated return, the Lakers could be injected with a massive boost on both sides of the floor for their matchup against the Grizzlies’ electric point guard Ja Morant and 2023 Defensive Player of the Year winner and imposing power forward Jaren Jackson Jr.

Sure, Los Angeles’ future Hall of Famer LeBron James will still be missing from the lineup due to a sciatica diagnosis, but the team may now be positioned to win their NBA Cup group even without the 21-time All-Star.

In his first two appearances of the season, Dončić shocked the NBA world by averaging a ridiculous 46.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists paired with a 62.0% field goal percentage.

As for Smart, the 31-year-old defensive-minded guard has contributed 7.7 points and 2.0 assists in 24.7 minutes through two games.

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