Lakers starting lineup vs Rockets
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LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 12: Lakers forward LeBron James, #23, right, congratulates Lakers guard Luka Doncic after he sank a three-point shot, totaling 51 points for the game against the Bulls in the second half at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakersare set to tip off against the Houston Rockets in a key matchup between two of the top teams in the Western Conference.
Before the game, the Lakers announced their starting lineup.
Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, LeBron James, and Deandre Ayton all got the nod. That starting rotation has been a consistent choice for head coach JJ Redick this season, as the two key offseason additions of Smart and Ayton have been staples in the starting lineup this year.
Lakers Injury Report vs Rockets
The Lakers’ injury report features just one player: Maxi Kleber, who is out with a lumbar injury.
According to team insider Dave McMenamin, Redick told reporters that the big manis set to miss time.
While Kleber has mainly been a reserve center for the team this season, Jaxson Hayes will likely see an increase in minutes. Ayton will also likely play over his 27.4 minutes per game average, but the former first overall pick has been up and down recently, so a strong performance against an injured Houston team would be big for the Lakers.
As for the Rockets, Alperen Sengun was a late scratch for the game, as their All-Star deals with a back injury.Jae’Sean Tate, Steven Adams, and Fred VanVleet are also on the injury report, listed as out against Los Angeles, the latter two dealing with season-ending injuries.
Luka Doncic Player of the Week
Most recently, Doncic was namedplayer of theweek, as the leagueannounced on Monday.
The Slovenian star averaged 37.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 11 assists while the Lakers went 3-0 last week. That included a 50-point game against the Chicago Bulls, as well as his first game-winner in Los Angeles against the Denver Nuggets in an overtime thriller.
“Game-winner. 50-piece. Averaged a triple-double,” the team wrote. “A well-deserved Player of the Week award for Luka.”
On the season, Doncic leads the NBA in scoring at 32.8 points, along with eight rebounds, and 8.5 assists on 47.3% shooting in his first full season with the Lakers.
Marcus Smart News Emerges Before Lakers Game
Earlier on Monday, McMenamin published an article on ESPN uncovering that Smart has been playing with a major injury for the past few years.
“MarcusSmart’s right hand is the instrument he wields for his menacing defense. He nearly lost use of it eight years ago. And later lost his way in the NBA. Nowhe’s changing his fortunes, and the Lakers’, in L.A.”
Dave McMenamin
New feature for ESPN: Marcus Smart’s right hand is the instrument he wields for his menacing defense. He nearly lost use of it eight years ago. And later lost his way in the NBA. Now he’s changing his fortunes, and the Lakers’, in L.A.
Smart reportedly had glass stuck in his hand after punching a picture frame in frustration during his time with the Boston Celtics.
“The doctor looked at me in my eye and told me, ‘I don’t know how you still have use of your right hand,'” Smart said. “And they had to leave the extra piece in, because they said it will cause more damage if we go get it out.”Despite that, the guard ended up winning theNBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award in the 2021-22 season, and has been one of theleague’s top backcourt defenders since, despite some aging along the way.
At the time of the Lakers game against the Rockets, the team stands at 42-25, just a half game ahead of Houston in the standings. They have won eight of their last ten, including five in a row.