Denver, Colorado – After being sidelined since February 1st with a right midfoot sprain, Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt is aiming to make his return as early as Game 3 of the first-round series against the Denver Nuggets, a source familiar with the situation revealed to ESPN. Vanderbilt has been increasing his on-court workouts over the past two weeks and had one of his most intense sessions on Monday at Ball Arena. His availability for Thursday’s game will hinge on how his body responds in the days leading up to the matchup.
Christian Wood, the Lakers’ backup big man, has also not been cleared to return as of Monday due to a left knee injury that required surgery in March. The team remains hopeful that both Vanderbilt and Wood could make a comeback against the Nuggets. Lakers coach Darvin Ham emphasized the importance of taking it day by day to monitor their recovery processes.
Vanderbilt, known for his defensive prowess, was showcasing one of the best offensive stretches of his career before being injured. In the eight games leading up to his injury, he averaged 10.5 points on an impressive 66% shooting, along with 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. In the final six games of that stretch, Vanderbilt averaged 11.3 points, marking the highest scoring average over a six-game span in his six-year career, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
The Lakers will eagerly await Vanderbilt’s return as they look to solidify their roster heading into a crucial playoff matchup against the Nuggets. Fans will be keeping a close eye on how Vanderbilt and Wood progress in the coming days, hoping for a timely return to bolster the team’s chances in the postseason.