Is Jarred Vanderbilt Playing Tonight? Lakers Latest Injury Report Before Game 5 vs the Nuggets

The Los Angeles Lakers are in a do-or-die situation. They are facing the Nuggets in round 1 of the playoff series at the Ball Arena. The Nuggets lead the series by 3-1. The Lakers have received a glimmer of hope heading into game 5 of the series. There have been clouds of uncertainty over the availability of Jarred Vanderbilt.

He has been out of action since February 1. Now, all eyes are on the availability of Vanderbilt, who can be an important addition on the defensive end for the Lakers. Jarred Vanderbilt has been out of action since February due to a right mid-foot sprain. His status has been upgraded to questionable.

He is unlikely to be at full strength, and his conditioning will be a concern after such a long absence. But his defensive abilities can play a major role in stopping Nikola Jokić from scoring points. Vanderbilt’s return will provide much-needed strength to the Lakers. Anthony Davis & LeBron James have also been listed as questionable.

Davis is not at 100% because of a wrist sprain and James is also questionable because of a lingering ankle injury. Vanderbilt has had an average season for the Lakers, he has played only 29 games. He averages 5.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists & 1.2 steals per game. Vanderbilt’s return will free up LeBron James to focus more on offense, taking some defensive burden off his shoulders.

Lakers Need More Than Just Jarred Vanderbilt

Anthony Davis reportedly said that Vando might return, however, he remains uncertain regarding how much he will be able to play. This brings us to the point that, ultimately, Vanderbilt’s return alone won’t guarantee a Lakers victory. The team still requires LeBron James and Anthony Davis to play at an MVP level. The Lakers also need to address their overall inconsistency. They also need to overcome the internal issues. There have been rumors of dissonance in the Lakers dressing room.

The Lakers’ offense has been inconsistent. But their defense has cost them dearly. They have failed to maintain their defensive stability for the full 48 minutes of the game. They also need to overcome their fear of facing the Nuggets. The Lakers have failed to answer the questions raised by the Nuggets. Out of their last 10 meetings, the Lakers have lost 9 matches.

The Nuggets won’t shy away from playing at their full potential. They would like to seal their round 2 spot by securing victory against the Lakers at home. The Lakers’ season hangs in the balance. While Vanderbilt’s return offers a glimmer of hope, the team needs a complete performance on both ends of the court to pull off a victory in Denver.