Every comeback like the one the Lakers had on Sunday has a spark, something that ignites the team to start that long climb back up the hill. It could be a play, a call, a moment or — as was the case for the Lakers — a player.
Jarred Vanderbilt didn’t pull the Lakers all the way back on his own against the Mavericks after the purple and gold fell behind by as many as 27. However, it was his repeated hustle plays on both ends of the court, particularly in the third quarter, that turned the team’s slow jog of a comeback into a full-on sprint.