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Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt received a major injury update after he hurt his finger against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Los Angeles Lakers appear to have avoided the worst-case scenario with Jarred Vanderbilt, though his availability remains uncertain after a painful finger injury in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick said Vanderbilt is “day-to-day” with an injury to his non-shooting hand, according to Law Murray of The Athletic, who relayed Redick’s update on X. The update comes after Vanderbilt left the Lakers’ 108-90 loss to Oklahoma City in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series.
That matters for more than depth-chart bookkeeping. Vanderbilt is one of the Lakers’ most useful defensive options in a series that already looked difficult before Los Angeles added another injury concern. With Luka Doncic sidelined and the Thunder up 1-0, the Lakers’ margin for error is shrinking quickly.
JJ Redick says that Jarred Vanderbilt (non shooting hand) is day to day.
Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick Says Jarred Vanderbilt is “Day-to-Day” After a Finger Injury
Vanderbilt suffered the injury in the second quarter while trying to contest a dunk attempt by Thunder big man Chet Holmgren. The forward hit his finger on the backboard and immediately left the game, according to the Associated Press.
Vanderbilt played just six minutes before exiting. He finished with two points, and the Lakers had to finish the night without one of their most disruptive defensive forwards.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA, MLB and NFL for Heavy.com. He also focuses on the trading card market. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson