UPDATE: In a devastating blow to the Los Angeles Clippers, forward Derrick Jones Jr. has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee, following an injury during Saturday’s game against the Boston Celtics. He will be sidelined for at least six weeks as the team evaluates his recovery process.
Jones sustained the injury during a collision with Boston’s Payton Pritchard while fighting for a loose ball at midcourt. Despite a stellar performance in the game, where he scored 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting and contributed four rebounds, two assists, and one block in just 25 minutes, he limped off the court and was unable to put weight on his injured leg.
“They were battling for the ball, and once I retrieved it, he kind of just hit my leg,” Jones explained after the game. “I don’t know what happened. I don’t know what’s wrong. Like I said, I will get an MRI tomorrow, and once we figure that out, we will go from there.”
This marks a significant setback for Jones, who had only just returned from a similar injury that kept him out for 17 games. He originally suffered that injury on November 16, 2023, also against the Celtics. Before this latest setback, Jones was averaging a career-high 10.9 points per game, having started the first 13 games of the season.
The Clippers are now facing crucial challenges ahead, as they strive to maintain momentum without one of their key players. As they prepare for upcoming games, the focus shifts to how the team will adjust to this latest injury blow.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as the Clippers navigate this difficult period, with the next updates expected following Jones’s MRI results.
