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The Los Angeles Clippers' nightmarish 2025-26 campaign has continued to trend in the wrong direction, especially after the team's narrow 121-118 defeat at the hands of the Boston Celtics on Sunday night.
Los Angeles' 28-year-old combo-forward and reliable role player Derrick Jones Jr. put forth a wonderful beginning to his 10th NBA season for the Clippers entering the contest against the 2024 NBA champions, but an unfortunate collision with Boston's 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown sent the two-way wing to the floor clutching his knee.
Ultimately, the veteran forward and ex-Dallas Mavericks NBA Finals contributor would exit the game after roughly 11 minutes of action. On Monday evening, the Clippers were made aware of his condition and expected return timeline by ESPN's Shams Charania.
"Los Angeles Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. sustained a sprained MCL in his right knee and will be re-evaluated in six weeks, sources tell ESPN," Charania shared via X on Monday.
"Jones was averaging a career high 10.9 points per game prior to the injury Sunday in Boston."
Through 13 appearances for the Clippers, Jones Jr. has authored a solid campaign in an effort to help the lowly 4-9 squad rise through the Western Conference standings.
Jones Jr. had contributed 10.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks while knocking down 53.3% of his looks from the field as Los Angeles' consistent starting small forward, but it appears as though he'll be away from the team for a significant portion of their season while recovering from this latest setback.
After a few superb seasons with the Chicago Bulls from 2021-2023 and an NBA Finals run in 2024 with the Mavericks, Jones Jr. signed with the Clippers in the summer of 2024 on a 3-year, $30 million contract to support the franchise's two future Hall of Famers, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.
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