OKLAHOMA CITY — Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt sustained a full dislocation of his right pinkie during Tuesday’s 108-90 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals series, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Vanderbilt was injured when he attempted to block a dunk by Thunder center Chet Holmgren. Vanderbilt swiped at Holmgren behind the play and hit his finger on the corner of the backboard. Holmgren made the dunk to put the Thunder up 48-39 with 5:57 left in the second quarter.
Vanderbilt screamed in pain and was bent over while holding his hand, prompting the Lakers to call a timeout. Several players on the Thunder bench immediately looked away at the sight of the injury.
Vanderbilt needed stitches postgame because the bone in his dislocated pinkie finger broke skin, sources said.
Lakers assistant athletic trainer Octavio Marquez Montoya and coach JJ Redick walked 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 after 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.”
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 in the Lakers’ first-round victory over the Houston Rockets.
He finished Game 1 with two points and one rebound in six minutes.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
