Overview
- The Lakers announced Luka Dončić and Marcus Smart are available for Friday’s Emirates NBA Cup group-stage game at Memphis.
- Dončić returns after three games out with a sprained left finger and lower-left leg contusion, while Smart missed two with a right quadriceps contusion.
- LeBron James remains sidelined by right-side sciatica with a mid-November reevaluation planned; Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber and Adou Thiero also remain out.
- Austin Reaves is averaging 34.2 points and 10.0 assists through five games and is the sixth player to open a season at 30+ points and 10+ assists, according to NBA Communications.
- Los Angeles is 3–2 after a 2–1 stretch without Dončić, and the returning guards strengthen the backcourt for the Cup opener.