The injury was so severe that Coach JJ Redick rushed across the court to check on him as he was heard screaming in agony. With Vanderbilt ruled out, how will the Lakers adjust their defense for Game 2? Yankee Scores has the full injury report.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt experienced a complete dislocation of his right pinkie in Tuesday night’s game against Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals, reported ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The Injury Incident
The incident happened when the Lakers’ forward attempted a block during Chet Holmgren’s slam dunk in the second quarter.
The player swatted at Chet Holmgren while the latter dunked, hitting the backboard with his pinkie finger. With that dunk, Chet Holmgren extended Oklahoma City’s lead to 48-39 at the 5:57 mark.
Vanderbilt fell to his knees crying in agony, holding on to his hand after Los Angeles called for a timeout. The Thunder players were visibly shocked by the situation and turned their eyes away from the court.
It was even said in the news that one frame from Chet Holmgren’s dunk showed his pinkie bone poking through his hand.
Freak Injury
Los Angeles Lakers assistant athletic trainer Octavio Marquez Montoya rushed along with Lakers’ head coach JJ Redick toward Vanderbilt.
Lakers assistant athletic trainer Octavio Marquez Montoya and head coach JJ Redick traveled the length of the court to attend to Vanderbilt, who was on the opposite baseline.
“I had to go check on him because it just looked bad,” Redick said after the game. “I mean, he was audibly screaming, and you knew he had done something. So, we’re obviously disappointed that happened. It’s just a freak injury.”
Vanderbilt left the game following the timeout and was ruled out from returning at halftime.
“He’s tough as nails,” LeBron James said. “If Vando was in pain, then something actually really happened. So, it sucks.”
Medical Update
Vanderbilt did not leave the arena during the game for further medical attention. He had a bandage wrapped around the finger in the postgame locker room.
“He’s in as good of spirits as you can be in this situation,” Redick said after the game. “Obviously, frustrated with what happened.”
Vanderbilt averaged 3.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in 13.2 minutes per game in the Lakers’ first-round victory over the Houston Rockets.
He finished Game 1 with two points and one rebound in six minutes of playing time.
