The Los Angeles Lakers had their three-game winning streak snapped Wednesday night, suffering a lopsided 107-91 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Following the game, which San Antonio seized control of during a dominant second half, Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt stirred controversy after forcefully poking Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan in the face.
Jarred Vanderbilt Pokes Jeremy Sochan in the Face
As the final buzzer sounded in the Spurs’ commanding victory, in which they held a 66-40 advantage in points in the paint and a 53-22 edge in bench scoring, Vanderbilt and Sochan exchanged words face-to-face, with De’Aaron Fox appearing to restrain Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt then jabbed Sochan with his left finger, prompting Spurs forward Julian Champagnie to shove him in response.
Vanderbilt saw limited action this season and was making just his third start, stepping into the lineup with Lakers star LeBron James sidelined. The defensive specialist finished with four points and one steal in nearly 19 minutes.
Sochan, who logged 11 minutes off the bench, scored six points for San Antonio. The Spurs were led by Keldon Johnson’s 27 points, while Victor Wembanyama added 16 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks off the bench.
Why Did Vanderbilt Start for the Lakers Against the Spurs?
Vanderbilt entered the starting lineup in place of James, who is nearing the end of his streak of All-NBA selections after missing his 17th game of the season, having already sat out the first 14 games.
James was downgraded to out just hours before tipoff due to left foot joint arthritis and right sciatica. The Lakers have carefully managed his workload, and he has yet to play in a back-to-back this season.
“Every back-to-back, for the rest of the season, is TBD,” James said after recording 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in a 111-103 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday (per ESPN). “I am 41. I got the most minutes in NBA history. Bank [that answer] right now.”
Vanderbilt, who drew the start on Wednesday, entered the game averaging 5.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per contest. His role in the rotation has fluctuated, but James’ absence opened the door for additional minutes.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said James’ foot is typically sore after games, but the team is hopeful he can eventually reach a point where he is able to play in back-to-back situations.
The Lakers were also without Austin Reaves due to a calf injury, leaving Luka Dončić as the lone primary scoring and playmaking option.
