Marcus Smart Owns Inbounding Error as Lakers Hold On to Win
The Los Angeles Lakers secured a narrow 118-116 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday despite a costly inbounding error by Marcus Smart in the closing seconds.
Crucial Mistake in Final Moments
With 1.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Lakers leading by two points, Marcus Smart stepped on the end line while attempting to inbound the ball to Rui Hachimura. This resulted in a turnover, giving possession to the Spurs.
"I couldn't believe it," Smart said. "I think when I released the ball, they said I stepped over [the line]. I'm like, we see the play all the time when a guy gets the ball out quick and his leg is [hovering past the line] and he still inbounds it and he throws the ball in and there is no call."
Spurs’ Last Chance
Following the turnover, Spurs player Julian Champagnie was fouled by Lakers forward Jake LaRavia with 0.2 seconds remaining. Champagnie missed the first free throw and intentionally missed the second, aiming for a tip-in at the buzzer, but the Lakers maintained their lead to win the game.
Smart's Performance and Reflections
- Marcus Smart finished the game with 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
- He was perfect from the free-throw line, making all 10 attempts.
- Smart believed that if he had completed the pass cleanly, the clock would have expired before the Spurs could foul.
"To have that call at the end of the game..." Smart remarked, acknowledging the impact of the turnover on the game's final moments.
Despite the error, the Lakers managed to hold on and claim the victory.
Summary: Marcus Smart admitted to a critical inbounding mistake in the Lakers' tight win over the Spurs, but his overall strong play and the team's resilience secured the victory.