The Clippers moved Kobe Sanders to day-to-day on Saturday with a left hip impingement, ruling him out of Sunday's preseason game against the Warriors. His absence opens extra minutes for the rest of the Clippers rotation as the team keeps shaping its lineup before the regular season.
What happened
The Clippers listed Kobe Sanders as day-to-day on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 4:25 p.m. ET, with the issue logged as hip, torso, left on the injury report. He had no previous status listed. Joey Linn of SI.com reports that Sanders will not play in Sunday's preseason game against the Warriors because of a left hip impingement. The Clippers' report lists his expected return as Oct. 10.
What it means for the Clippers
Sanders sits out Sunday's preseason game against the Warriors, tipping off at 7 p.m. ET, as the Clippers keep testing their rotation ahead of the 2026-27 opener. Last season he averaged 19.9 minutes, 7.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists over 68 games. Without him on the floor, James Harden (35.4 minutes, 25.4 points), Kawhi Leonard (32.1 minutes, 27.9 points), Darius Garland (29.1 minutes, 19.9 points) and Kris Dunn (27.2 minutes, 7.3 points) have logged the extra time. The Clippers are 0-0 with the 2026-27 season not yet underway, so there is no record with or without Sanders to point to.
What to watch
The Clippers list Oct. 10 as Sanders' expected return from the left hip impingement. The next injury report will show whether he progresses to practice or game availability before then. The Clippers continue their preseason schedule, including Sunday's game against the Warriors, as they finalize the roster and rotation for the regular-season opener.
Is Kobe Sanders playing vs Warriors?
No. Sanders is day-to-day with a left hip impingement and will not play in Sunday's preseason game against the Warriors, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. ET.
When will Kobe Sanders be back?
The Clippers' injury report lists his expected return as Oct. 10. No further timeline has been announced.