Jarred Vanderbilt Dismissed For Shoved & Flicked Dillon Brooks’ Head
Upon Vanderbilt’s dismissal, Dillon Brooks, who typically has the opposite opinion in these exchanges, simply grinned and left the court.
Jarred Vanderbilt was defeated on Monday by Dillon Brooks.
The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Houston Rockets 135-119, and Vanderbilt was dismissed early in the second quarter for shoving Brooks beneath the hoop. After the play, Vanderbilt struck Brooks hard in the chest with his forearm as they fought for position in an attempt to grab a rebound. A fast technical foul was assessed to him for that.
After that, as Brooks was leaving, Vanderbilt shot him in the back of the head during a heated argument with officials over the phone. Vanderbilt was ejected after receiving a second technical foul for that. Brooks simply chuckled and moved to the opposite side of the court.
In just seven minutes off the bench for the Lakers, Jarred Vanderbilt finished with three points and a steal. The 24-year-old, who is currently sixth in the league, was averaging 4.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game going into Monday. He inked a three-year, $13 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, which is now in its last year.
Brooks seems utterly unfazed by Vanderbilt’s behavior, despite having been involved in several similar altercations in the past. When Brooks hit Indiana Pacers center Daniel Theis in the groin in October, he was sent off from a preseason game and fined.
Brooks had previously assaulted LeBron James in the playoffs the previous year and blamed the media for making him seem bad. In the offseason of last year, Brooks inked a four-year, $80 million sign-and-trade contract with the Rockets.
Brooks led the Rockets to a 78-60 advantage at the Toyota Center at halftime with 10 points and two rebounds. He closed the half with a string of consecutive baskets, including a buzzer-beater.
In the fourth quarter on Monday, Brooks struck James in the face while attempting to grab a rebound, earning him a flagrant foul.
But after that foul, James missed both of his free throws. After that sequence, the Rockets were up 16, and they just hung on to win by 16 points.
After the game, James had no desire to discuss Brooks.
32 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists from Jalen Green helped the Rockets win. Next to him, with 31 points and 12 rebounds, was Alperen Sengun; Cam Whitmore scored 20 points in the paint as a substitute. A 7-of-12 shooter from the field, Brooks finished with 17 points.
With 23 points, 10 assists, and 6 rebounds in the defeat, James led the Lakers in points scored. Moreover, D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Davis each finished with twenty-three points. Although they’ve won five of their last eight games, the Lakers’ record now stands at 24-24 after the setback. Tuesday will be their next matchup against the Atlanta Hawks.
