Lakers Get Major Injury Update on Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura Ahead of Pacers Game

With the impressive nine-game win streak officially over after the loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers will attempt to start fresh on Wednesday against the struggling Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Unfortunately for the Lakers, the team will be shorthanded for a second straight game, with veterans Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura dealing with ailments and starting center Deandre Ayton popping up on the injury report.

Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura Ruled Out vs. Pacers

Deandre Ayton (back soreness) has been downgraded to QUESTIONABLE for tonight’s game at Indianapolis.

Rui Hachimura (right calf soreness), Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) and Adou Thiero (left knee soreness) have been downgraded to OUT.
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) March 25, 2026

Smart and Hachimura will miss a second straight game, with the defensive-minded guard nursing a right ankle contusion while Hachimura continues to try to work his way back from right calf soreness. Rookie Adou Thiero has also been ruled out with left knee soreness.

Ayton is currently listed as questionable, as he is now battling back soreness, which is a concern if he’s ultimately ruled out for Wednesday’s game.

On Wednesday, the Lakers will head into a three-game set against the three teams sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, starting with the Pacers to end a six-game road trip. Los Angeles will then host the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards at Crypto.com Arena before facing Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 31.

With the Lakers heading into an easier part of their schedule, facing three teams that have already been eliminated from playoff contention, the team resting players like Smart, Hachimura and Ayton might not be all that surprising, as they'll likely still be able to come out with wins against this teams while shorthanded.

The Pacers, Nets and Wizards have no incentive to win games moving forward, which obviously works in the Lakers' favor moving forward as they might be able to further secure the third seed in the Western Conference.

However, after this three-game stretch against some of the worst teams in the East, and the league for that matter, the Lakers' schedule will have some bumps in the road to finish out the 2025-26 season, starting with the Cavaliers.

Los Angeles will also face the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder twice and one potentially pivotal matchup with the division rival Phoenix Suns before the regular-season finale against the lowly Utah Jazz on April 12, before the NBA playoffs get underway on April 18.

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