The Los Angeles Lakers are facing the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series, and just before tipoff, the team announced some new injury updates on a few of their key players, Jarred Vanderbilt and Luke Kennard.
Vanderbilt has been ruled out for Game 2 with a right finger dislocation, a gruesome injury he suffered in the Lakers’ Game 1 loss. As for Kennard, he has been upgraded to available for Thursday night, as neck soreness landed him on the injury report, but he’s since been cleared to play.
“Luke Kennard (neck soreness) has been upgraded to available for tonight’s Game 2 at Oklahoma City, per the Lakers,” Khobie Price of the California Post wrote on X. “Jarred Vanderbilt (right finger dislocation) has been downgraded to out.”
The Lakers are still without franchise star Luka Doncic, as he remains without an official return timeline, and was also ruled out with his hamstring injury ahead of Game 2.
Lakers Announce Luke Kennard, Jarred Vanderbilt Injury Update
GettyLos Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt received a major injury update after he hurt his finger against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Kennard was a surprise addition to the Lakers’ injury report, but neck soreness put his status for Game 2 in question. However, less than two hours before tipoff, he was upgraded to available, not set to miss any time for Los Angeles in the conference semifinals.
As for Vanderbilt, he’s a different story. The guard left the Lakers’ Game 1 loss after suffering a dislocated finger after going up for a block against the Thunder’s Chet Holmgren. Vanderbilt’s hand hit the backboard, resulting in his finger being dislocated and his bone sticking out from his skin.
He left the game and didn’t return. Shortly after, Lakers head coach JJ Redick told reporters that Vanderbilt was seen by medical staff following the injury.
“They were able to put his finger back together,” Redick said, per Price. “He’s splinted and he’s day to day.”
Despite the gruesome and viral finger injury, Vanderbilt wasn’t initially ruled out for Game 2. He was first listed as doubtful, before then being officially ruled out at the same time Kennard was upgraded to available.
Still, with Redick saying Vanderbilt is day-to-day, his status going forward remains something to keep an eye on, especially if the Lakers are able to steal a win and extend their series against the Thunder.
Luka Doncic Injury Update Ahead Of Game 2 Vs Thunder
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 31: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers makes a slam dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on March 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Vanderbilt is joined by Doncic on the Lakers’ injury report, as the star remains out with the grade 2 left hamstring strain he suffered more than a month ago.
According to NBA insiders, Doncic is not expected back in the series against Oklahoma City, as he continues his injury recovery without an official return timeline.
When speaking to the media before Game 2, Doncic told reporters that doctors said he would miss at least eight weeks in order to make a full recovery. After the star revealed that news, Dave McMenamin of ESPN gave a brutal update on Doncic potentially coming back in the Lakers-Thunder series.
“When you talk about eight weeks, that would suggest he’s nowhere close to a return,” the Lakers reporter said. “He didn’t flat-out say that he wouldn’t return in this series, but his body language and answers let all of us in the room with him yesterday to believe that we’re not going to see Luka Doncic in this series against the Thunder.”
Despite the fact that getting Doncic back would drastically help the Lakers’ chances against the Thunder, it appears the team is taking a cautious approach with his recovery and eventual return. If Los Angeles can advance past Oklahoma City, the chances of him returning grow, but for now, he remains without an official injury return timeline.
In the meantime, it’s LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and the rest of Redick’s rotation going up against the defending champions, a series they are not expected to win.
Game 2 of Lakers vs Thunder is set to tip off at 6:30 pm PST on Thursday, May 7, and will be live on Amazon Prime Video.
Like HEAVY’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on HEAVY
The post Lakers Make Key Injury Announcement Just Before Game 2 Vs Thunder appeared first on HEAVY.