The Los Angeles Clippers have received a discouraging injury update that threatens to disrupt their rotation once again, with forward Derrick Jones Jr. facing another extended absence.
Jones has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 right MCL sprain and will be re-evaluated in six weeks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The timing makes the setback particularly cruel. Jones had only recently returned from a month-long absence caused by the same injury to the same knee, sustained against the Boston Celtics.
His latest sprain came once again against Boston, turning an already frustrating situation into a bizarre and deflating repeat.
Clippers Dealt Cruel Injury Deja Vu
Jones suffered the injury in the fourth quarter while chasing a loose ball against the Celtics on Saturday. He collided with Payton Pritchard, who fell across the back of Jones’ knee as the two became tangled on the floor. Jones was visibly in pain immediately and did not return to the game.
“(Pritchard) reached for the ball, poked it away a little bit, and once I retrieved the ball, he was going for the ball again and kind of just hit my leg,” Jones said postgame, via The Orange County Register.
“I don’t know what happened. I don’t know what’s wrong. Like I said, get an MRI tomorrow, and once we figure that out, we will go from there.”
The setback halts what had quietly been a strong stretch of play for the 28-year-old. Across 17 appearances this season, Jones has been enjoying the most productive campaign of his career, averaging 10.4 points per game while knocking down 40% of his three-point attempts.
He has also been a consistent defensive presence, posting a career-best 1.1 blocks per contest.
Jones was particularly sharp before going down against Boston, recording 19 points in just 24 minutes on near-perfect shooting. He added four rebounds, two assists, and a block in what had been one of his most impactful performances of the season.
His presence has coincided with improved results for Los Angeles. Since returning from his initial knee injury on December 28 against the Detroit Pistons, the Clippers rattled off three straight wins with Jones in the lineup before falling to Boston.
During his earlier absence, the team struggled to maintain consistency, going 5-12 without him available.
After a sluggish start to the season, the Clippers had begun to build momentum, winning six consecutive games before running into the Celtics. That progress now faces another interruption as the team adjusts its rotation once again.
Jones’ Absence Complicates Clippers’ Rotation
Jones is expected to miss all of the remaining games before the All-Star break, putting a potential return timeline in late February.
Despite missing significant time, Jones’ impact when healthy has been evident. Lineups featuring Jones alongside Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Ivica Zubac, and Kris Dunn have produced dominant results in limited minutes.
According to NBA.com data cited by the New York Times, that five-man unit owns a plus-42.8 net rating and has consistently limited opposing offenses, offering a glimpse of the Clippers’ defensive ceiling when fully intact.
Jones’ value lies in the areas that are hardest to replace. He thrives without needing plays called for him, defending multiple positions, sprinting the floor, attacking the glass, and finishing opportunities created by others. Losing that type of connector piece places added strain on the rotation and reduces lineup flexibility.
Given the repeat nature of the injury, the organization is expected to prioritize long-term health over short-term availability, even if that means a cautious return once Jones is cleared.
For now, the Clippers can only hope that extended rest and rehabilitation finally bring stability. Jones’ energy, defense, and athleticism have already been missed once this season, and this latest setback ensures they will be missed again in the weeks ahead.
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