Lakers’ Jarred Vanderbilt tossed for pushing and flicking Dillon Brooks’ head in early defeat against Rockets

On Monday night, Dillon Brooks had the upper hand in an altercation with Jarred Vanderbilt. In the second quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 135-119 defeat to the Houston Rockets, Vanderbilt was ejected after getting into a physical confrontation with Brooks beneath the rim. Vanderbilt forcefully shoved Brooks in the chest with his forearm well after the play while jostling for a rebound, resulting in a quick technical foul. Engaging in an argument with officials over the call, Vanderbilt went on to flick Brooks in the back of the head as he walked away, earning him a second technical foul and subsequent ejection. Brooks responded by laughing and walking away to the other end of the court.

Get instant basketball updates!

Vanderbilt contributed three points and a steal in a seven-minute stint coming off the bench for the Lakers. The 24-year-old, currently in his sixth NBA season, has been averaging 4.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game this year. He is in the final season of a three-year, $13 million contract initially signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Despite Brooks, who has been involved in similar incidents in recent years, appearing unfazed by Vanderbilt’s actions, it’s worth noting that Brooks has a history of altercations. He was ejected from a preseason game and fined for hitting Indiana Pacers center Daniel Theis in the groin in October. This incident mirrors a similar action he took against LeBron James in the playoffs last year, after which he blamed the media for portraying him as a villain. Brooks, who joined the Rockets this offseason in a sign-and-trade deal worth $80 million over four years, had an impactful first half with 10 points and two rebounds, contributing to the Rockets’ 78-60 lead at the Toyota Center. He concluded the half with back-to-back buckets, including a buzzer-beater.

In the fourth quarter on Monday night, Brooks received a flagrant foul for unintentionally hitting James directly in the face while attempting to secure a rebound.

However, James failed to capitalize on both free throws following the foul. Despite the Rockets maintaining a 16-point lead after that series of events, they managed to secure the win by maintaining their advantage throughout the game. James opted not to discuss the incident involving Brooks after the game.

Jalen Green played a pivotal role in the Rockets’ victory, leading the team with an impressive performance of 34 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists. Alperen Sengun closely followed with 31 points and 12 rebounds, while Cam Whitmore contributed 20 points coming off the bench. Brooks had a solid outing, finishing with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field.

Despite the Lakers’ loss, James led his team with 23 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds. Both Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell also contributed 23 points each. The defeat brought the Lakers’ season record to 24-24, although they have won five of their last eight games. Their next matchup is against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night.