Redick and the Lakers all see how valuable Smart is to the team.
The Los Angeles Lakers had no business leaving Houston with this one, not after the way the final minute of regulation was unfolding.
They were down six with less than 30 seconds left against a desperate Rockets team ready to change the feel of the series, and then Marcus Smart ripped the game back into reach.
Los Angeles escaped with a 112-108 overtime win in Game 3 on Friday night, moving within one victory of the Western Conference semifinals and pushing Houston to elimination's edge.
LeBron James buried the tying three, but JJ Redick kept coming back to Smart because so much of it ran through him.
Smart Changes the Game Late
“He’s a winner. He makes winning plays. … The steal was huge. … Those two plays in overtime that really got us the lead and kept us in control of the overtime were on offensive rebounds,” Redick said.
That explains why Smart has become such a crucial piece for Los Angeles.
He finished with 21 points, 10 assists, five steals, and two blocks, but the timing mattered more than the totals.
Smart came up with the late steal that led to three free throws, then scored eight of the Lakers’ 11 points in overtime.
Smart had already changed Game 2 with his shot-making and defense, and through three games he has looked like the veteran guard a short-handed team needs when every possession gets tight.
Lakers Keep Finding Enough
The Lakers finished the regular season 53-29 and earned the fourth seed, while Houston went 52-30 and entered as the fifth seed, so this matchup was never supposed to have much room between the teams.
The difference is that Los Angeles keeps finding enough winning plays, even with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined.
LeBron James had 29 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists, Rui Hachimura added 22 points, and Smart filled in every gap around them.
That matters because Redick has leaned into the idea that the Lakers can still hold onto their offensive identity without their top two scorers available.
A Series Built on Trust
Houston still has enough talent to make Game 4 uncomfortable, especially if Kevin Durant returns, but the Lakers look more connected in the biggest moments.
Smart is not just giving them defense or energy.
He is giving them direction.
Smart has been the voice, the pressure point, and the extra-possession player all at once, which is exactly what Los Angeles needed when the roster had to change.
The Lakers have talked about making the season last long enough for their injured stars to return, but Smart is helping make sure they do more than survive.
Right now, he is helping them take control.