Derrick Jones Jr. Suffers Setback: New Knee Injury for Clippers Forward

The 2025-2026 season is turning into a nightmare for Derrick Jones Jr. The Los Angeles Clippers forward has suffered a new sprain of his right knee ligament, according to information revealed by Shams Charania of ESPN this Sunday. A particularly cruel setback that comes just four games after his return from injury.

The timing of this new injury is all the more frustrating as Jones Jr. had already injured the same knee earlier this season, a first sprain that had kept him off the court for over a month. This time, the injury occurred during the Clippers’ loss to the Boston Celtics Saturday night, ironically against the same team as his first injury.

A Major Blow to the Clippers’ Standings Recovery

This new absence comes at a particularly bad time for the Clippers, who were finally going through a successful period. Jones Jr.’s return had coincided with a six-game winning streak, allowing the California team to get some breathing room after a catastrophic start to the season. Currently thirteenth in the Western Conference with a record of 12 wins and 22 losses, the Clippers had finally gotten back on track before the beating they received against the Celtics.

The veteran forward was averaging just over 10 points per game this season, despite recurring health issues that prevented him from finding consistent rhythm. His defensive qualities and athletic potential had become key elements in Tyronn Lue’s rotation, providing the physical intensity and stability the team needed.

Jones Jr.’s extended absence will force the Clippers coach to scramble at the forward positions, especially since Bradley Beal and Bogdan Bogdanovic are also unavailable. Nicolas Batum could benefit from additional playing time to compensate for this absence. If all goes well in his reevaluation scheduled in six weeks, the most realistic timeline to see Jones Jr. back on the court would be after the All-Star Break.

The Clippers did receive some good news with the return of Ivica Zubac Saturday, who had missed two weeks of competition due to an ankle sprain.