Marcus Smart to start when Fred VanVleet rests

Still only 32, Smart is a 12-year NBA veteran best known for his nine-year tenure with the Celtics. He won the Defensive Player of the Year award in the 2021-22 season. Smart was still a significant piece for the Lakers last year as he averaged 9.3 points and 3.0 assists in 28.5 minutes per game. He opted out of his contract with the Lakers and was rewarded by the Rockets with a slight pay bump. NBA Insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer previously reported the Rockets were a potential landing spot for Smart.

VanVleet, who will make $25 million next season, did not play at all in 2025-26 after suffering a torn ACL weeks before the start of training camp. In his first two seasons with the Rockets, the point guard averaged 15.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.9 three-pointers per game. Last season, Houston missed VanVleet’s on-court leadership and ability to organize, which factored into the team’s first-round playoff elimination. It’s unknown whether VanVleet will be a full go at training camp in late September, but his availability would be a big deal for the Rockets.

After one season in Los Angeles, Smart has reportedly decided to hit free agency. Appearing in 62 games, the veteran guard averaged 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.6 three-pointers in 28.5 minutes. On Sunday, NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported that Houston is a potential landing spot for Smart. Had he opted into the final season of his contract, Smart would have received a base salary of $5.4 million.

Despite not shooting the basketball well, particularly from beyond the arc, Smart was the lone Lakers starter to conclude with a positive plus-minus. He was impactful as a passer on the evening and played his usual strong defense, even though he only tallied one steal. Smart eventually knocking down some three-pointers would help the Lakers’ offense — he’s currently shooting 3-of-15 from deep over the first two games of the series. Perhaps the home floor and familiarity with the rims will help the veteran guard find his touch in Game 3.

On April 29, it was reported that Dončić, who strained his left hamstring in an April 2 loss to the Thunder, had no return timeline. He’ll remain out at the start of the second-round series, with the hope that the Lakers will get Dončić back at some point. Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura will continue to play significant minutes until Dončić can play.

While Sheppard scored in double figures in five of the six games in this series, his second NBA season ended with a whimper on Friday. The Rockets guard shot 1-of-10 from beyond the arc and converted just three of his nine two-point attempts. And with Kevin Durant (ankle) still out, the Rockets could ill afford to have Sheppard shoot as poorly as he did in Game 6. Fantasy-wise, while Fred VanVleet’s absence did open things up for Sheppard, few managers expected him to provide top-100 value during the regular season. With a healthy VanVleet and Durant in the fold, Sheppard’s ADP (113 this season) is unlikely to receive a boost ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

Having suffered a tendon bruise in his knee before the series, Durant has been out since Game 2 due to a bone bruise in his left ankle. His continued absence means another start for Reed Sheppard, while the Rockets will also require more production from Alperen Şengün, Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson. Sheppard played 35 minutes in Wednesday’s Game 5 victory, finishing with 12 points, six assists, three steals and two three-pointers.

Despite it being another elimination game for the Rockets, Durant still won’t be available to suit up. Reed Sheppard should continue to start after scoring 17 points in Houston’s Game 4 victory. If they’re able to extend the series, there is a chance Durant is able to make a return to the court, which would help the Rockets’ chances of making history by coming back from down 0-3.

While Game 4 was the third time in this series that Sheppard finished with 17 points, he was far more efficient than in Games 1 and 3. The second-year guard shot 50 percent from the field on Sunday, compared to 6-of-20 in Game 1 and 6-of-21 in Game 3. Add in the assists, three-pointers and steals, and Sheppard had a good night when the Rockets needed him most. Sheppard has recorded three steals in back-to-back games, and he kept the turnovers in check in Game 4 after racking up five in the Rockets’ Game 3 defeat. How much he’ll play in Game 5 on Wednesday depends on the availability of Kevin Durant (ankle), who did not play in Games 3 or 4.

With their season on the line, the Rockets will go into Game 4 without their leading scorer. Despite around-the-clock treatment, the veteran wing has not been cleared to play through an injury that would likely sideline him for multiple weeks during the regular season. Reed Sheppard is in line to make another start, and the Rockets will need increased offensive production from Alperen Şengün.