The Los Angeles Clippers received concerning news regarding Norman Powell, their leading scorer, during their Sunday night game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Powell participated in the first nine minutes of the game, but with 3:13 remaining in the first quarter, he left the court and headed to the locker room. The team subsequently announced that he would be out for the remainder of the game due to right hamstring soreness, as reported by ClutchPoints’ Tomer Azarly.
Los Angeles Clippers Lose Norman Powell To Another Injury
This news marked an early end to Powell’s night, during which he recorded four points, one rebound, one assist, and one steal. He shot 1-of-5 from the field and missed all three of his three-point attempts.
Powell’s renewed absence due to injury presents a considerable challenge for the team, particularly following his recent return to the court on Sunday. This news is undoubtedly a setback for the team’s playoff aspirations.
Powell has been a vital source of offensive production this season, averaging 24.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 steals across 45 appearances. He’s also displayed impressive shooting efficiency, with a 49.6% field goal percentage and a 42.8% success rate from three-point range.
However, a recent knee injury sidelined him for several weeks, causing him to miss the Clippers’ previous five games, during which the team went 1-4.
With Powell’s health now a renewed concern, they will need to rely more heavily on James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac, and Bogdan Bogdanovic to compensate for the lost scoring.
The Clippers currently hold a 32-27 record, placing them sixth in the Western Conference standings. They trail the Houston Rockets by 4.5 games and the Memphis Grizzlies by 5.5 games.
Following their game against the Lakers, the Clippers will prepare to travel to Phoenix to face the Suns on March 4th at 10 p.m. ET.