Los Angeles Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. was having the best game of his season before everything came crashing down against the Boston Celtics on Saturday night, and his postgame comments reveal the frustration of suffering the same injury against the same opponent.
Jones Jr. Describes Devastating Collision
"[Pritchard] reached for the ball, poked it away a little bit, and once I retrieved the ball, he was going for the ball again and kind of just hit my leg," Jones Jr. said after the game.
The veteran wing was visibly struggling as he limped off the court, barely able to put any weight on his right leg while making his way to the locker room.
What makes this situation even more heartbreaking is that Jones Jr. had just returned from the exact same injury to the same knee, which he suffered back on November 16th against the Celtics when Jaylen Brown dove into his leg during that game.
A Season-High Night Cut Short
Jones Jr. was putting together his best performance of the 2025-26 season before the collision occurred, as he had scored a season-high 19 points while shooting an incredible 8-9 from the field along with four rebounds and two assists.
He was easily on pace to eclipse the 20-point mark and was keeping the Clippers within striking distance despite trailing by 18 at the time of his exit.
Since returning from his initial MCL sprain on December 28th against the Pistons, Jones Jr. had appeared in just four games and was working his way back into form.
The 28-year-old forward started all 13 games before his first injury and had been averaging a career-high 10.4 points per game on the season while also contributing 2.6 rebounds and strong defensive versatility.
Clippers Fall to 12-22 as Celtics Dominate
The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for Los Angeles and dropped them to 12-22 on the season while the Celtics improved to 22-12 with their dominant road trip finale.
Jaylen Brown matched his career-high with 50 points to lead Boston, and the Clippers simply had no answer once Jones Jr. left the game.
What's Next for Jones Jr.
An MRI on Sunday confirmed the worst fears as Jones Jr. was diagnosed with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee and will be re-evaluated in six weeks.
The cruel coincidence of suffering the same injury on the same knee against the same opponent has left the Clippers organization searching for answers, and the team will need to be extremely patient with his recovery this time around.
Jones Jr. will need all the support and care from the training staff before he returns to action, and even when he is cleared, Los Angeles should consider giving him extra rest to make sure he is fully confident in that leg.
His athleticism and explosive ability depend heavily on his legs being healthy, so there is no reason to rush him back given the circumstances. The Clippers will move forward without one of their most valuable role players as they try to climb out of 13th place in the Western Conference standings.