BBNBA: Jarred Vanderbilt's breakout performance lifts Lakers to win
Jarred Vanderbilt has been the toast of Los Angeles since joining the Lakers at the trade deadline. Vando has given LeBron James and Anthony Davis a lockdown defender and elite rebounder to help them make one final push for the playoffs, and on Sunday he had his best game as a Laker yet.
Vanderbilt, who now wears #2, the same number he donned at Kentucky, put on a breakout performance with 15 points, 17 rebounds, and four steals. Moreover, he channeled his inner Oscar Tshiebwe and grabbed a career-high-tying eight offensive boards.
However, his defense is what will likely make Lakers fans the happiest. He had the tall task of guarding Luka Doncic and absolutely shut him down. Luka shot just 2-7 when Vando was the primary defender and frustrated the All-Star point guard all game long.
Vanderbilt’s performance helped spur the Lakers’ 27-point comeback victory over the Dallas Mavericks. There is still much work to do in LA for the Lakers to make a late-season run, but Jarred Vanderbilt is playing determined.
Oh, and some guy named Anthony Davis had 30 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers as well. Evidently, he is pretty good too.
Sacramento’s Kentucky trio keeps winning
Two days after Sacramento’s Kentucky trio combined for 87 points in the NBA’s game of the year, De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, and Trey Lyles scored a cool 61 combined points en route to a less dramatic win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, which was without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the second straight game as he deals with a minor ankle injury.
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Fox led the way with 33 points, followed by Lyles who had 16. Monk scored 12 points on 4-5 from behind the arc.
Everyone and their uncle keeps waiting for the Sacramento Kings to fall back down to Earth, but Fox and company just keep winning. They retain a firm hold of third place in the Western Conference and enjoy the best season Sacramento has seen in nearly two decades.
Kentucky fans know how Monk can get hot at any minute, so combine that with Fox’s consistency and who knows what will happen when the playoffs come around. The Kings will be a tough out.
Other BBNBA Notes:
- As Devin Booker patiently awaits Kevin Durant to suit up beside him for the first time, the Phoenix Suns lost to the red-hot Milwaukee Bucks, which have now won 14 straight games. Book had 24 points in his team’s 104-101 loss to the Giannis-less Bucks.
- TyTy Washington started his second game in a row and put up this third straight game with double-figures. Washington had 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists in the Houston Rockets’ loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, or more specifically Damian Lillard, who casually dropped 71. His teammate, Shaedon Sharpe, chipped in four points.
- Meanwhile, in Denver, Jamal Murray dropped a double-double by scoring 24 points and dishing out 12 assists in the Nuggets’ 134-124 win over the LA Clippers. Denver is another team with a quiet, yet firm grasp on a top seed in the West, as they remain in first place.
2/26/2023 Statistics
| Player | Score | PTS | FG (3PT) | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | MIN | +/- |
| De’Aaron Fox (SAC) | 124-115 W vs. OKC | 33 | 11-19 (3-9) | 3 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 37 | +7 |
| Anthony Davis (LAL) | 111-108 W vs. DAL | 30 | 12-20 (0-2) | 15 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 37 | +16 |
| Devin Booker (PHX) | 101-104 L vs. MIL | 24 | 9-21 (1-5) | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 38 | -1 |
| Jamal Murray (DEN) | 134-124 W vs. LAC | 21 | 8-22 (4-13) | 5 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 41 | +9 |
| Trey Lyles (SAC) | 124-115 W vs. OKC | 16 | 5-8 (3-5) | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 25 | +4 |
| Jarred Vanderbilt (LAL) | 111-108 W vs. DAL | 15 | 6-8 (1-1) | 17 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 27 | +14 |
| Malik Monk (SAC) | 124-115 W vs. OKC | 12 | 4-6 (4-5) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 20 | -2 |
| TyTy Washington (HOU) | 114-131 L vs. POR | 10 | 3-10 (2-7) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 32 | -4 |
| Shaedon Sharpe (POR) | 131-114 W vs. HOU | 4 | 2-5 (0-2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 13 | -14 |
| Kevin Knox (POR) | 131-114 W vs. HOU | 0 | 0-0 (0-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Brandon Boston Jr. (LAC) | 124-134 L vs. DEN | DNP-CD | ||||||||
| Wenyen Gabriel (LAL) | 111-108 W vs. DAL | DNP-CD | ||||||||
| Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) | 104-109 L vs. GSW | DNP-Calf | ||||||||
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) | 115-124 L vs. SAC | DNP-Ab/Ankle |
Tonight in the NBA
7:00: Pistons (Diallo, Noel) @ Hornets (PJ Washington: doubtful, Richards)
7:00 (NBA TV): Heat (Herro: questionable, Adebayo) @ 76ers (Maxey)
7:30: Celtics @ Knicks (Randle, Quickley)
8:00: Magic @ Pelicans
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