Just four days aftersuffering a gruesome injury, Jarred Vanderbilt was available to play again.
Vanderbilt was upgraded from questionable to available for Saturday’sGame 3 against the Thunder.
The 6-foot-8 forward suffered an open dislocation to his right pinky during the second quarter of Tuesday’sGame 1 lossto the Thunder in Oklahoma City.
Medical personnel were able “to put his finger back together,” according toLakers coach JJ Redick, who added that Vanderbilt’s status was day to day.
Vanderbilt was doubtful before being downgraded to unavailable for Thursday’s Game 2 loss.
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“We just had to kind of make sure that the tissue and the stitches were good to go so that the bone wouldn’t pop out again. But, I mean, he’s certainly tough-minded and wants to give it a go,” Redick said.
Redick added on the left-handed Vanderbilt: “Glad he’s never taken a shot right-handed in his life.”
Sources told The California Post on Tuesday that a bone in Vanderbilt’s pinky broke through the skin afterhe attempted to block an alley-oop for Chet Holmgrenduring the second quarter of Game 1, with Vanderbilt’s pinky hitting the backboard as he swiped for the ball.
The 6-foot-8 forward immediately went to the ground in pain, holding his right hand near the Thunder bench, withOklahoma City playersreacting when they saw Vanderbilt’s hand.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
