Jarred Vanderbilt found himself in a tough spot during Monday’s game against the Houston Rockets. As the Los Angeles Lakers struggled to keep up, Vanderbilt’s night took a sour turn when he got ejected following an altercation with Dillon Brooks.
It all started under the basket, where Vanderbilt, vying for a rebound, pushed Brooks forcefully in the chest after the play had ended. This led to a quick technical foul against Vanderbilt. But matters escalated when, amidst heated exchanges with officials, Vanderbilt flicked Brooks in the back of the head as Brooks walked away. This action earned Vanderbilt a second technical foul and subsequent ejection from the game.
Jarred Vanderbilt was ejected after an altercation with Dillon Brooks 👀
(via @BleacherReport)pic.twitter.com/VWDe0soyzJ
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 30, 2024
Despite Brooks’ history of similar altercations, he appeared unfazed by Vanderbilt’s actions. Brooks, known for his past incidents and fines, including one involving LeBron James, remained composed throughout.
Meanwhile, Brooks continued to make an impact on the court, contributing to the Rockets’ commanding lead. He even sealed the first half with back-to-back buckets, including a buzzer-beater.
Dillon Brooks beats the 2Q buzzer to cap off a team season-high in points scored in a half!
Lakers-Rockets | Live on the NBA App
📲 https://t.co/d8rYkIjszt pic.twitter.com/E1VnHziMXS— NBA (@NBA) January 30, 2024
As the game progressed, Brooks received a flagrant foul for an incident involving James, but it failed to derail the Rockets’ momentum. Led by stellar performances from Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun, the Rockets secured a comfortable victory over the Lakers.
Despite commendable efforts from James, Anthony Davis, and D’Angelo Russell, the Lakers couldn’t overcome the deficit, resulting in an even record for the season.
Here’s a look at Dillon Brooks hitting Bron in the head https://t.co/dsu7H2p4Jl pic.twitter.com/ujjsqHkSOd
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) January 30, 2024
In the aftermath of the game, James opted not to comment on Brooks’ actions, likely eager to move past the frustrating defeat. With a challenging matchup against the Atlanta Hawks ahead, the Lakers will need to regroup quickly to bounce back.
