NBA Rumors: Fines, Suspension Tied To Game Skirmish Compound Lakers' Woes

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.

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.

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.