Derrick Jones Jr. Faces Six-Week Absence with MCL Sprain

URGENT UPDATE: Los Angeles Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. is sidelined again due to a Grade 2 MCL sprain of his right knee, suffered during Saturday’s game against the Boston Celtics. This latest injury means Jones will be re-evaluated in six weeks, leaving fans and teammates concerned about his recovery.

The incident occurred in the second half of the game when Jones collided with Boston’s Payton Pritchard while chasing a loose ball. Following the collision, Jones was seen limping off the court, unable to bear weight on his injured leg. He described the moment, saying, “

Once I retrieved the ball, [Pritchard] was going for the ball again and kind of just hit my leg.

Jones had just returned to the court last week after missing 17 games due to a similar injury to the same knee, which he sustained on November 16, 2023, against the Celtics. Before this setback, he was making a significant impact on the team, averaging a career-high 10.9 points per game and contributing 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, in just 25 minutes of play during Saturday’s game.

This injury poses a major challenge for the Clippers as they look to maintain momentum in the highly competitive Western Conference. With Jones out, the team will need to adjust their strategy and depth to fill the gap left by his scoring and defensive capabilities.

As the Clippers head into their next games, fans will be watching closely for updates on Jones’s recovery and the team’s performance without him. Stay tuned for further developments as the situation unfolds.