Lakers’ Jarred Vanderbilt was ejected in the second quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ matchup with the Houston Rockets after a face-off with Dillon Brooks.
After Austin Reaves got into the lane for a tough bucket, Brooks gave Vanderbilt a bit of a nudge and the Lakers forward responded with a shove of his own.
That earned Vanderbilt his first technical. As Brooks was walking away, Vanderbilt followed him and poked him in the back of the head for some reason.
Vanderbilt’s frustration came from a play a few possessions prior where he drove to the basket and Brooks pushed him in the back and the Lakers were losing.
Brooks was whistled for a foul on the play and Vanderbilt took a hard fall.
Jarred finished with three points and a steal in seven minutes off the bench for the Lakers. The 24-year-old entered Monday averaging 4.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game this season, his sixth in the league.
Vanderbilt has been better in recent weeks after struggling since recovering from his heel injury.
During the Lakers’ double-overtime win over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, he finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals in 41 minutes.
Brooks had 10 points and two rebounds at halftime while helping the Rockets to a 78-60 lead at the Toyota Center.
Jalen Green led the Rockets with 34 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists in the win. Alperen Sengun was right behind him with 31 points and 12 rebounds, and Cam Whitmore added 20 points off the bench. Brooks finished with 17 points after shooting 7-of-12 from the field.
