Marcus Smart Injury Update
Marcus Smart gave Lakers fans a scare on Christmas after a right shoulder injury against the Houston Rockets. He left the floor and went straight to the locker room which made it look serious in the moment. The scene worried people because his right arm was hanging and he seemed unable to move the shoulder properly as he exited.
Reports from the arena said the injury happened in the first quarter after contact with Steven Adams near the paint. Smart grabbed at his right shoulder right away then sprinted to the tunnel. Early notes from beat reporters described him as questionable to return because of the shoulder issue.
The mood around the team shifted once an update came during the game. The problem was labeled minor and Smart was cleared to come back before halftime. He checked in at the start of the second quarter and played regular minutes again. That return is the key detail right now because it shows there was no major structural damage announced.
Once he came back on the floor he went right back to his usual style. He pressured the ball and jumped passing lanes and tried to spark the Lakers defense. Game recaps mentioned that his energy helped cut into the Rockets lead for a short stretch even though the team still lost big in the end.
Official league injury pages do not list a long term shoulder problem for him after that game as of December 26. He is off the main injury report that tracks players who are ruled out or doubtful for upcoming dates which supports the idea that this was a scare more than a serious setback.
This shoulder issue comes on top of what has already been a stop start season for Smart. Earlier in the year he missed time with a back problem but he returned to practice in early December and said his back felt good and ready for a test in game action. The Lakers also had him dealing with a minor Achilles concern during camp yet he was able to participate in most practice sessions once that calmed down.
Because of his physical style Smart has a history of bumps and strains across his career. Previous seasons have included ankle trouble leg issues and finger injuries when he was with past teams. Those did cost him stretches of games but he usually came back as soon as medical staff cleared him. That pattern matches what just happened with the shoulder where he returned quickly once tests showed nothing major.
He hurt his right shoulder on Christmas against Houston left the game for evaluation then came back in the second quarter and finished the night. There is no public sign of a long absence from this specific injury at the moment.
Disclaimer
This article is based on publicly available reports, game broadcasts, and official injury listings as of December 26. Injury situations can change quickly depending on medical evaluations and team decisions. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to official team announcements and NBA injury reports.
