In a recent NBA Western Conference semifinal matchup, the Oklahoma City Thunder edged out the Los Angeles Lakers 115-110 on the road in a hard-fought battle. With this victory, the Thunder swept the Lakers 4-0 in the series, advancing to the Western Conference Finals. They will now face the winner of the series between the San Antonio Spurs and the Minnesota Timberwolves for a spot in the NBA Finals. The Lakers, who suffered four straight losses, were eliminated from the playoffs. Notably, the Thunder remain undefeated this postseason, and the five-point margin was the smallest they’ve faced so far.
In this game, Lakers’ starting guard Marcus Smart gave it his all. Smart played 35 minutes and 36 seconds, shooting 2-for-8 from the field, 0-for-4 from three-point range, and 1-for-1 from the free-throw line, finishing with 5 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. He also committed 6 turnovers and 5 fouls, with a plus-minus of +5. Offensively, Smart’s efficiency was disappointing—he struggled to score and shoot, and his turnovers hurt the team. However, on defense, he left everything on the court and played a crucial role. Smart even converted a key and-one play late in the game, giving Lakers fans a glimmer of hope. But ultimately, the team couldn’t hold on, as the talent gap proved too significant, and the Lakers fell short.
During the 2025-26 NBA regular season, Smart appeared in 62 of 82 games, averaging 28.5 minutes per game with 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.4 blocks, along with 1.5 turnovers and 2.6 fouls per game. His shooting percentages were 39.5% from the field, 33.1% from three, and 82.2% from the free-throw line. In the playoffs, Smart played 10 games, averaging 34.5 minutes per game with 12.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 2.4 steals, and 1 block, but also 3.5 turnovers and 3.1 fouls. His playoff shooting was 39.4% from the field, 34% from three, and 79.1% from the free-throw line.
Smart performed well in the first-round series, showcasing his scoring ability and playmaking while also being solid defensively. However, in this semifinal series, his production dropped significantly. He couldn’t maintain consistent shooting touch and struggled to provide much-needed offensive support. Age and injury issues have clearly diminished his capabilities, making it unrealistic to expect him to shoulder heavy responsibilities on both ends of the floor. It remains to be seen whether Smart will exercise his player option to stay with the Lakers this summer.
