As the Lakers delivered a statement win over the Portland Trail Blazers Monday, they did so thanks to their depth sans LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Deandre Ayton posted a double double against his former team, and Rui Hachimura tallied 28 points. But the influx of opportunities allowed another young player to shine: two-way guard Nick Smith Jr., who has a golden chance to prove his worth as other backcourt players recover.
Lakers Two-Way Guard Turns Heads with Breakout Performance
Nick Smith Jr.’s “Flu Game” and Historic NIght
Despite battling an illness, Smith Jr. put up 25 points in 27 minutes against Portland. Including ten in the fourth quarter. He shot 10-15 from the field and 5-6 from deep, tallying six assists and a steal along the way.
The 21-year-old’s performance also gave him a spot in the record books, as he became the youngest Laker ever to record 25+ points without attempting a single free-throw.
In a postgame interview with Spectrum Sportsnet’s Mike Trudell, Smith said there was “no way” he’d miss Monday’s game.
“I just wanted to come out here with energy. Coach JJ and the coaching staff believe in me and believe in this group, no matter who we got. … Just come out here and compete and win, and I feel like we did that [Monday] and we gotta keep it going.”
Smith Jr., who signed a two-way deal on Sept. 29, said his performance was a “big one” for him.
“My teammates [have] definitely done a good job of leading me in the right direction,” he added. “I’m learning a lot, man, and I’m just happy to be here.”
His outburst even garnered praise from Blazers interim head coach Tiago Splitter, who told reporters that Smith “just changed the whole pace. We could not guard him.”
What to Expect From Smith Jr.
Nick Smith Jr. showed a wide arsenal of scoring moves, finding the bottom of the net from all three levels while operating well within the flow of the offense. His ability to shoot and distribute can be a game-changer for the team’s bench as it deals with the absence of Gabe Vincent (left ankle sprain).
If Smith maintains this solid production in the short term—and stays just as effective when the team is fully healthy—he might have a shot at filling the Lakers’ 15th roster spot once the opportunity comes in mid-January. The team has been no stranger to promoting G League talent, giving Jordan Goodwin a standard deal toward the end of last season. Nick Smith Jr. could be the Lakers’ latest success story if all goes well with his development this year.
Lakers Injury Report vs. San Antonio Spurs
The Lakers’ reserves will once again be counted on against the Spurs tonight (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN), even with Doncic’s return. At the time of writing, James (sciatica), Vincent, Maxi Kleber (abdominal muscle strain) and Adou Thiero (left knee surgery recovery) are out. Reaves (right groin soreness) is listed as questionable, while Jaxson Hayes (right ankle sprain) is probable.
Nick Smith Jr. has begun to prove himself to the Laker faithful, and he’ll have another opportunity to make a memorable impression and be a name they won’t soon forget.
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