Lakers' Marcus Smart: Monster defensive performance

Smart logged 13 points (4-9 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), seven steals, six assists and four rebounds over 37 minutes during the Lakers' 121-111 win over the Hornets on Monday.

Smart connected on three three-pointers for the second time this season, but the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year made his presence felt with seven steals, one short of his career-high eight swipes in February 2017. Smart opened the season on the bench, but he has started each of his last seven outings, averaging 11.1 points, 4.4 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 2.6 steals across 30.7 minutes per game over that span.