Key player returns from injury for Lakers vs. Grizzlies

Just a week after the two teams faced off in Memphis, the Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers will face off at 7:00 PM PST in Los Angeles as the two look to maintain their position in the Western Conference standings. Earlier today, however, the Grizzlies received some positive news regarding one of their key players.

On ESPN’s “NBA Today” show, Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania revealed that former Defensive Player of the Year guard Marcus Smart is set to return to the lineup after missing the past few weeks with an ankle sprain.

Via Matt Infield of Action News 5: “NEW: Shams just reported on NBA Today. Ja Morant will be re-evaluated this weekend. He says the Grizzles aren’t too concerned about it being a long-term problem. Better put, he says Marcus Smart returns tonight after missing the past few weeks due to an ankle sprain.”

Smart appeared in the first five games of the season for the Grizzlies before leaving the first quarter of their game against the Brooklyn Nets with an ankle sprain. After missing the previous six games, he returns to the team to provide some much-needed depth as star Ja Morant remains sidelined due to an injury to his hip and pelvis.

In the four full games Smart has played this year, he has averaged 7.0 points and 3.3 assists per game while shooting a paltry 23.5% from the field. However, Smart’s value is best reflected in his defense, as he averaged 2.3 steals plus blocks in that four-game span.

With a win tonight and a Rockets loss, the Grizzlies can claim first place in the Southwest division.

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