Lakers Injury Report: LeBron James to Play, Marcus Smart Questionable vs. Warriors

The Lakers' star duo have key injury updates ahead of the crucial matchup with the Warriors.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 12:24am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game between the Lakers and Warriors, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape.The Lakers' star duo of LeBron James and Marcus Smart face key injury questions ahead of their crucial matchup with the Warriors.Los Angeles Today

The Los Angeles Lakers have released their injury report for Thursday's game against the Golden State Warriors. LeBron James, who missed the team's previous game due to a foot injury, is set to return and play. Meanwhile, veteran guard Marcus Smart, who has been out for the last eight games with a right ankle contusion, is now listed as questionable.

Why it matters

With the Lakers fighting for playoff positioning in the Western Conference, the availability of both LeBron James and Marcus Smart is crucial. James' return provides a major boost, while Smart's potential return would help offset the recent absences of key players like Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

The details

LeBron James, the 41-year-old Lakers superstar, missed the team's previous game against the OKC Thunder due to a foot injury. However, he is now cleared to play against the Warriors. Marcus Smart, on the other hand, has been sidelined for the last eight games due to a right ankle contusion. His status has been upgraded to questionable, indicating a potential return to the lineup.

  • LeBron James missed the Lakers' game on Tuesday, April 9, 2026 against the OKC Thunder.
  • Marcus Smart has missed the last eight games for the Lakers.

The players

LeBron James

A 41-year-old superstar forward for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Marcus Smart

A 32-year-old veteran guard for the Los Angeles Lakers.

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What’s next

The Lakers have two more games left following the Warriors clash. They are currently 4th in the Western Conference standings with a 50-29 record.

The takeaway

The availability of LeBron James and Marcus Smart is crucial for the Lakers as they fight for playoff positioning in the Western Conference. James' return provides a major boost, while Smart's potential return would help offset the recent absences of key players.