OKLAHOMA CITY — Despite the gruesome nature of Jarred Vanderbilt’s dislocated right pinky injury, the Lakers forward’s status is day to day.
Medical personnel were able “to put his finger back together” after Vanderbilt suffered an open dislocation to the pinky during the second quarter of Tuesday’s Game 1 loss to the Thunder, Lakers coach JJ Redick said Wednesday.
“Obviously a tough-minded player and person,” Redick said. “I mean, he had a full dislocation. So they just put the stuff back together. He’ll be day to day.”
Redick added: “It’s called a reduction, apparently. He took some pictures for me, which I passed along to [my wife] Chelsea, because she was very curious, and she wishes I had not sent those photos.”
Sources told The California Post on Tuesday that a bone in Vanderbilt’s pinky broke through the skin after he attempted to block an alley-oop for Chet Holmgren, 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, with Oklahoma City players reacting when they saw Vanderbilt’s hand.
He immediately went back to the locker room at the 5:51 mark of the second quarter.
The Lakers ruled Vanderbilt out for the remainder of the game at halftime.
“It was disgusting! Bro’s whole bone was out of his skin,” Jaxson Hayes said. “You never want to see one of your teammates go down, but that was gross. That was really gross.”
Hayes added: “I’ve dislocated many fingers. That was definitely the worst. That was definitely the worst dislocation I’ve ever seen in my life. I have a picture right here; I’m not gonna show it, though. But, yeah, that was the most disgusting dislocation ever.”
