In a high-stakes showdown between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers, the absence of key players like Darius Garland and Bradley Beal was already a strategic hurdle for the Clippers. But the night took a dramatic turn when forward John Collins suffered a serious injury just before halftime.
With 18.6 seconds left on the clock, Collins went for a dunk and was undercut by Jaxson Hayes, leading to a hard fall that left him shaken and bleeding on the court. The sight of Collins being helped off by teammates and trainers left fans in a state of shock and concern.
Despite the scare, Collins later provided some relief to Clippers fans, sharing that he received stitches but was in good spirits postgame. His absence was felt on the court as the Clippers battled on.
The Lakers, however, had already built a strong lead in the first half, eventually sealing the game 125-122. Before his exit, Collins managed to score 12 points and grab a rebound in just 16 minutes of play.
The game saw another setback for the Clippers when Kawhi Leonard, dealing with left ankle soreness, left the game with just over five minutes remaining. The absence of both Collins and Leonard was a significant blow to the Clippers’ efforts, contributing to their narrow loss.
After the game, head coach Tyronn Lue emphasized the team’s resilience. "Kawhi’s been dealing with some left ankle soreness, so we got him out.
JC is still being evaluated. But you saw it - this group competes.
We’re going to fight every night. That doesn’t look like a team that’s trying to lose to me," Lue stated passionately.
As the Clippers sit in the ninth spot in the Western Conference with a 27-29 record, the health of Collins and Leonard is crucial. Their potential absence in the upcoming game against the Orlando Magic raises concerns about the team’s playoff prospects.