The Clippers fell 101-108 at Oklahoma City and sit 11th in the West at 1-2. Hoopsrumors reported that Thunder wing Jalen Williams was stretchered off with an apparent leg injury, a loss that outweighs the Clippers' own concerns.
Oklahoma City may have lost more than the Clippers did.
Hoopsrumors reported that Jalen Williams was stretchered off with an apparent leg injury. The Thunder list him as out with a left ankle and leg issue. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 and Oklahoma City stayed unbeaten at 3-0, so the Clippers took no comfort from the result.
Garland's night shows how much the offense leans on him.
Darius Garland had 16 points and 11 assists, but also six turnovers and a minus-20 mark in 36 minutes. Kris Dunn collected five steals. The reserves outscored the starters' margin in value: Kobe Sanders and Gradey Dick were each plus-11, while the starters scored 57 to the bench's 44.
Wednesday brings the Lakers back, with the same thin roster.
The Clippers lost 117-125 at the Lakers on Oct. 23 and host them Wednesday. Then comes Minnesota on Oct. 30 in the Emirates NBA Cup, and Golden State on Nov. 1. The standings are tight: the Clippers trail sixth-place Portland by 1.5 games and are level with tenth-place Dallas.
The absences, not the cap sheet, define this month.
Max Strus, Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Brandon Ingram and Bradley Beal are all listed to return Nov. 8. Jordan Miller is out until March 2, 2027. Payroll is $188.9 million, under the $200.4 million tax line, but that room does little while the rotation is this short. Brook Lopez, 15 points on 23 minutes, has absorbed the extra work.
When do the Clippers play next?
They host the Lakers on Wednesday, Oct. 28. They then visit Minnesota on Oct. 30 in the Emirates NBA Cup.
When are Ingram and Beal expected back?
Both are listed with a return date of Nov. 8, along with Max Strus and Yanic Konan Niederhauser. Jordan Miller is listed out until March 2, 2027.
