Marcus Smart owns error as Lakers hold on against Spurs

Los Angeles Lakers’ Marcus Smart admitted he made a mistake after he stepped on the end line when attempting to make an inbounds pass to Rui Hachimura, resulting in a turnover and giving the ball to the Spurs with 1.2 seconds remaining on the clock.

But there was no late drama as the error didn’t cost much, with the Lakers registering a 118-116 win on Wednesday against the Spurs.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Smart said. “I mean, 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.”

Smart finished with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, going 10-for-10 on free throws. He admitted the howler shouldn’t have happened as he has all the experience.

“To have that call at the end of the game, 1.2 [seconds], we got a guy wide open, all he’s got to do is catch it and the ballgame is over,” Smart said. “It’s kind of crazy, but as a 12-year vet, I can’t make that mistake.

“I take full ownership of it. My teammates understand. They are going to joke with me. They are going to let me hear about it. But it will never happen again.”

On the other hand, Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 35 points, 13 assists, 9 rebounds and 5 steals after Austin Reaves (sore right groin) and LeBron James (right sciatica) were sidelined. Doncic said Smart gives his all to the team.

“The energy on the defensive end, he does some things that I’ve never seen in my life, like how he dives for the ball,” Doncic said. “His leadership and his communication on defense, it’s been everything for us. I mean, he brings the energy that I didn’t know [he had]. So him being on my team, I mean our team, it’s unbelievable.”

The Lakers will next take on the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.