In November, the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown collided with Derrick Jones Jr., resulting in a Grade 2 sprain to Jones’ right MCL that sidelined him for 17 games. On Saturday night, just four games after his return, Jones suffered a similar injury to the same knee following a collision with the Celtics’ Peyton Pritchard during a loose ball play, forcing him to exit the game. The Clippers have confirmed that Jones has sustained another Grade 2 MCL sprain and will be re-evaluated in six weeks, with a likely return just after the All-Star break.
While this setback is unfortunate, it is not the worst outcome possible. Jones has been a key contributor to the Clippers’ recent success, averaging a career-high 10.4 points per game and hitting 40 percent of his three-point attempts. Despite his injury, Jones is expected to play alongside the Clippers’ other wings in their game against the Warriors, even as Bradley Beal and Bogdan Bogdanovic remain sidelined.
Fan Take: This injury update is crucial for basketball fans as Derrick Jones Jr. has been a rising force for the Clippers, and his health directly impacts their competitiveness. Keeping him on the court means the Clippers can maintain their momentum and deliver exciting, high-level basketball throughout the season.
