The Los Angeles Lakers' 125-109 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night took a fiery turn in the fourth quarter when a heated altercation led to the ejections of Jarred Vanderbilt and Jeremy Sochan.
The scuffle erupted near the baseline as both players exchanged shoves before being separated by teammates and officials. The confrontation brought the game to a boiling point, injecting late-game drama into the Western Conference matchup.
With just under seven minutes remaining, the Lakers held a comfortable lead when Vanderbilt, known for his defensive intensity, defended Sochan aggressively.
VANDO FIGHT SOCHAN pic.twitter.com/k32ei5dMzt
— Lakers Empire (@LakersEmpire) March 18, 2025
Sochan took exception after a foul was called on Vanderbilt and threw the ball at him. Words were exchanged, and Vanderbilt responded with an intense shove, prompting officials to intervene.
After a review, both players were assessed double technicals and ejected. Sochan exited with 15 points, while Vanderbilt had just 2 points before his night was cut short.
Despite the dust-up, the Lakers maintained control down the stretch, securing their second straight win at home.
Austin Reaves led the charge with 30 points, while LeBron James added 21 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds. The Spurs, struggling to find momentum, were paced by Stephon Castle's 23 points in the loss.
The game may be over, but the fireworks between Vanderbilt and Sochan could set the stage for an even more intense rematch when the teams meet next season.
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This story was originally published March 18, 2025 at 12:35 AM.