NBA Notes: Clippers, Derrick Jones Jr, Players of Week, Nikola Jokic, Nets

Clippers

The Clippers are going to be without Derrick Jones Jr. for a while.

He suffered a right MCL sprain in Sunday’s loss at Boston and will be out at least six weeks, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. That’s when he’ll be reevaluated, not necessarily ready to return.

The injury looked bad in real time. Jaylen Brown lost the ball, dove to recover it, and his momentum carried right into Jones’ knee.

It bent inward, Jones grabbed at it immediately, and he needed help getting to the back. Given all that, the Clippers were relieved the diagnosis wasn’t worse, per Law Murray of The Athletic.

Jones had been giving L.A. energy, length and real defensive pop. The numbers don’t jump off the page at 10.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks, but his activity did. They’ll feel this one.

Things didn’t get better for the Clippers on the wing, either. Jordan Miller aggravated the hamstring strain that sidelined him to start the year. He won’t play Monday in Philadelphia, though the team doesn’t expect it to be a long-term issue. Rookie two-way wing Kobe Sanders will get his first career start.

There is some good news. Kawhi Leonard has resumed on-court work as he rehabs ankle and foot sprains. It’s unclear whether he’ll play on this road trip, which wraps up next Tuesday at the Lakers.

Players of the Week

Well, here’s something that’s not a surprise out West: Nikola Jokic won Player of the Week again after averaging 39 points, 13 rebounds and 8.0 assists on numbers that look like typos.

The Nuggets went 3-0 on the road and have now won seven straight. Jokic even dropped 55 on the Clippers — including 52 through three quarters.

Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson took the award in the East, guiding the Hawks to a 4-0 road trip. He averaged 24 points, 12 rebounds, 9.3 assists and 2.5 steals.

His 31-18-14-7 line in Utah was the first of its kind since steals became official in 1973.

Nets

Brooklyn beat Washington on Sunday in a matchup of two struggling teams, and yes, it slightly dings the lottery math.

Coach Jordi Fernandez didn’t care.

“It’s a learning process. And it’s not just about the young guys. And I want to repeat this over and over: It’s about us. It’s about the group. It’s about growing together,” Fernandez said, via Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “There’s a plan for everybody to get better. And if you don’t get better, you get worse.”