Right as Jaylen Brown landed awkwardly on Derrick Jones Jr.’s leg, mid-game, Sunday afternoon, fans could immediately tell the tests were not going to come back with good news. Jones Jr. could not even get up on his own and put pressure on his right leg, leading to the unfortunate update that he had sprained his MCL. This unofficially put the LA Clippers’ playoff hopes to rest.
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. Jones was averaging a career high 10.9 points per game prior to the injury Sunday in Boston. pic.twitter.com/jIqpHgaz6m
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 17, 2025
Before Jones Jr.’s injury, the Clippers already had two major ones in Bradley Beal and Kawhi Leonard. Thus, Tyronn Lue needs his best role player night in and night out, yet he will miss the most crucial part of the year.
By the time Jones Jr. returns, the Clippers’ regular season will likely look much different from what it does now, and that may not be a good thing. They continue to lose close games, with back-to-back losses of three points or less against the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, and will inevitably struggle without the burst and athleticism of the nine-year veteran.
The LA Clippers’ playoff hopes after the injury to Derrick Jones Jr. are on thin ice
Derrick Jones Jr. has had fans of the LA Clippers repeatedly say the same thing about his game: “This is the best year of his career,” and it is actually true. He somehow manages to progress despite never playing 25 minutes per game throughout a full season.
In 2025-26, 13 games for Jones Jr., he averaged 10.5 points and 2.4 rebounds, shooting 53.3% from the field, which included a two-point percentage of 71.7%. This was one of the best marks in the league for a player attempting at least seven shots per game.
Moreover, the Clippers and their fans initially thought Jones Jr. had torn his ACL. This was the impression given just by the way he got up after going down, and the fact that, not long after, he was seen on crutches.
While the bright side is that his season is not over, the Clippers' season might be, without his efforts on both sides of the ball. It will be a miracle if they can initiate a winning stretch without Jones Jr., Bradley Beal, and Kawhi Leonard.
That said, all of LA’s hopes of making the playoffs may end up depending on who they face in the play-in tournament, if they can get there. There is also a slight chance this happens, but it is more realistic than a top-six seed.