When the Los Angeles Lakers recently visited TD Garden for a Friday night rivalry clash, Marcus Smart was unavailable for the matchup. So were several of the stars on both sides of the NBA's most storied rivalry.
Due to injuries, Smart has returned to Boston four times, but only suited up in one of those tilts against the Celtics. The franchise's former floor general is dealing with a left lumbar muscle strain. He has not played in the Lakers' last six games.
However, his return may be imminent.
"Over the last couple [of] days, he's [gotten] closer," JJ Redick informed reporters earlier this week. "We were hoping he's back Wednesday, but still day-to-day."
Wednesday offers another chance for Smart to reunite with former teammates. The purple and gold will face the San Antonio Spurs, whose roster now includes Kelly Olynyk and Luke Kornet, in an NBA Cup quarterfinal contest.
After that, Los Angeles will face Danny Ainge's Utah Jazz the next night. It's also a chance to see Will Hardy. When Smart and the Celtics reached the NBA Finals in 2022, Hardy, now the bench boss in Utah, was their lead assistant.
So, while the former Defensive Player of the Year's return to the TD Garden parquet didn't include him taking the floor that night, perhaps the next time he does will still come on a night he reunites with people he built bonds with in Boston.
How is Marcus Smart faring with the Lakers?
The 31-year-old guard has dealt with multiple injuries during his first season in Los Angeles. Back and ankle injuries have limited him to 14 appearances in 23 games.
Smart started in nine of those, but he moved to a role off the bench when LeBron James returned from the back injury that sidelined him to begin the current campaign.
When available, the 11-year veteran has been productive for his new team. Smart is averaging 9.3 points, 2.9 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.
"We miss him," Redick said about the three-time All-Defensive team selection before the Celtics' 126-105 win over the Lakers. "Smart challenged the guys [in Los Angeles's win over Raptors] at the beginning of the fourth quarter that had to get every loose ball in that fourth quarter.
"I thought our defensive intensity and our ability to get stops and make multiple efforts, whether it was the chase-down block, [Deandre Ayton's stop at the end, [Jake LaRavia] diving on the floor for a loose ball. They tried to make those multiple efforts and executed them well. We're gonna be happy when Smart's back in the lineup, whenever that is."
Despite dealing with the absences of their stars, LeBron James and Luka Doncic, along with a valuable role player like Smart, the Lakers are 17-6. They have won eight of their last ten games and are second in the Western Conference.