Max Strus, Konan Niederhauser, Brandon Ingram and Bradley Beal are all projected back on Nov. 8, while Jordan Miller's left shoulder keeps him out until March 2, 2027. The Clippers moved back up to ninth in the West without playing and host the Lakers on Oct. 28.
Four absences now have an end date, but Miller's runs into March.
Strus, Konan Niederhauser, Ingram and Beal are all projected to return Nov. 8. Ingram's listing did not change on Oct. 26: he is still Out with a right Achilles issue. Beal is out with a right knee issue. Miller is projected back March 2, 2027, so a rotation guard is gone for most of the season, and a thin bench gets thinner.
The Lakers arrive unbeaten but on no rest.
JJ Redick's team is 3-0 and plays Wednesday on the second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers will have had two full days off. Luka Doncic is averaging 34.3 points and Austin Reaves 26.7 over three games, and the Lakers won the first meeting 125-117 on Oct. 23. Adou Thiero is Out for the Lakers with a left knee issue.
Lopez has become the second scorer behind Garland.
With Ingram and Beal sidelined, Brook Lopez is averaging 18.0 points in 23.2 minutes a night and is shooting 54.5% from three. His minutes are up eight a night over the last three games. Darius Garland leads with 24.0 points a game and also averages 7.0 assists. Leaning on a 38-year-old center for two more weeks puts real strain on the roster.
The standings shift means little, but the next five games matter.
The Clippers climbed from 11th to ninth on Oct. 27 without playing. They sit 1.5 games behind sixth-place Minnesota at 3-1 and level with 10th-place Denver at 1-2. After the Lakers they play road games at Minnesota on Oct. 30 in the Emirates NBA Cup and at Golden State on Nov. 1, then host Toronto and Miami. One question stands out: does Tyronn Lue push Lopez's minutes higher against Walker Kessler, or save him for the trip?
When will Brandon Ingram return for the Clippers?
Ingram is listed Out with a right Achilles issue and is projected to return Nov. 8.
When do the Clippers play the Lakers again?
Wednesday, Oct. 28, at home. The Lakers won the first meeting 125-117 on Oct. 23 and come in on the second night of a back-to-back.
