NBA Rumors: Fines, Suspension Tied To Game Skirmish Compound Lakers' Woes
KEY POINTS
- Horton-Tucker's suspension did not help the Lakers' cause against the Miami Heat
- The Raptors missed the services of VanVleet and Bembry against the Chicago Bulls
- The Lakers need to put their emotions in check with their main stars yet to return to action
The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to find ways to survive with a depleted roster, and the latest sanctions meted by the NBA will not help.
The Lakers played without young guard Talen Horton-Tucker against the Miami Heat, a game they eventually lost.
Horton-Tucker ended up on the wrong end when he left the bench when things got heated. For those who may have missed it, things got chippy after O.G. Anunoby did a wrestling move on Dennis Schroder after the latter gave up a common foul.
While Anunoby did try to extend a hand to Schroder, the scene got out of hand with other players like Fred VanVleet of the Raptors and Montrezl Harrell of the Lakers joining the fray.
Horton-Tucker was not the only player suspended for the NBA skirmish and fined $10,469 by the league. VanVleet and DeAndre Bembry were also handed one-game suspensions for their involvement and fined $146,552 and $11,980 by the league.
Both players did not suit up when the Raptors hosted the Chicago Bulls. Toronto lost to Chicago, 122-113.
Temperatures rising between the Raps and Lakers. _ pic.twitter.com/NxVmy77CaP
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 7, 2021
Other players who were involved in the Raptors vs. Lakers melee were not spared from sanctions. Harrell of the Lakers was fined $20,000 for his involvement, while Anunoby was fined a heftier $30,000 for instigating the whole thing, AP News reported.
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Both the Lakers and the Raptors need all players on deck as they prepare for the NBA playoffs. But if there is a team that got hurt by it, it would have to be the Lakers.
With Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Andre Drummond out, Horton-Tucker is one of the players that Frank Vogel is turning to as he deals with a decimated roster.
The loss to the Heat pushed the Lakers to 32-20 and into 5th place of the Western Conference standings.
Given that they have a star-studded lineup, it is something that NBA fans are taking exception to although most know that things should take a dramatic turn once the main stars are back in harness.
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