Rui Hachimura was upgraded to Day-To-Day on Oct. 29, with Friday's game in Minnesota as his return target. The Clippers are 1-3 and have lost three straight, and they now face a Timberwolves team that is missing Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo and playing for a second night in a row.
Hachimura's upgrade is the only health item moving in the right direction.
Hachimura was first listed Oct. 27 with a left quadriceps injury. He is now Day-To-Day and pointed at a return Oct. 30. He averaged 10.3 points and 6.0 rebounds over three games before he went down. Ingram, Beal and Strus all have Nov. 8 targets, and Jordan Miller is not expected back until March 2. Clipperholics argued that starting Kobe Sanders in Hachimura's place was the right call. His return will show whether Tyronn Lue agrees.
Minnesota arrives shorthanded and without rest.
The Clippers come into Friday's Cup group-stage game at Minnesota on two days of rest, while the Timberwolves play for a second straight night. Anthony Edwards (right knee) and DiVincenzo (right Achilles) are both ruled out. Edwards has averaged 33.3 points, so without him Chris Finch has to lean on Jaden McDaniels at 15.8 points and Rudy Gobert's 12.2 rebounds. Minnesota is 3-2 but has dropped its last two.
The Lakers loss exposed problems with the frontcourt and with ball security.
Wednesday's 103-87 defeat never got close after the Lakers built a 23-point lead. Brook Lopez finished -21 in 22 minutes, the worst mark on the roster, even though his minutes have climbed by eight a night over the last three games. Darius Garland committed 5 turnovers. Keaton Wagler scored 21 off the bench, but he shot 4-15 from the field and leaned on 10-12 free throws.
The standings are still forgiving, but the schedule is not.
The Clippers are 12th in the conference, half a game behind Golden State for 10th and 1.5 games behind sixth-place San Antonio. The road swing continues at the Warriors on Nov. 1, followed by home games against Toronto on Nov. 2 and Miami on Nov. 4. The open question is whether Lue keeps giving Lopez more minutes once Hachimura is back, or tightens the rotation around the players who held up Wednesday, such as Isaiah Jackson at -2.
Will Rui Hachimura play against the Timberwolves?
He is listed Day-To-Day with a left quadriceps injury and has a target return of Oct. 30, the date of the Minnesota game. His final status has not been announced.
Is Anthony Edwards playing against the Clippers?
No. Edwards is listed Out (right knee), and Donte DiVincenzo is also Out for Minnesota.
