Clippers Make Ben Simmons Announcement Before Lakers Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Elie Deglaoui | Last updated Mar 2, 2025 2:46 PM ET

For the second consecutive game, the Los Angeles Lakers will host the Los Angeles Clippers as they look to extend their winning streak to six games. On Friday, the Lakers defeated the Clippers 106-102. This game will also mark the final regular season matchup between both teams.

Unfortunately for the Lakers, they will be shorthanded as Austin Reaves, who suffered a calf injury against the Clippers, is officially inactive. As for the Clippers, they will be without Derrick Jones Jr., and they recently made an update to the injury report that included recently signed 2016 No. 1 overall draft pick Ben Simmons.

Earlier this month, the Clippers signed Simmons after he was bought out by the Brooklyn Nets. Since making his debut, he has only missed one game with the team.

However, this could change on Sunday as the Clippers added him to the injury report, announcing he had been downgraded to questionable with left knee soreness.

Ben Simmons has been downgraded to QUESTIONABLE with Left Knee Soreness for tonight’s Clippers-Lakers game.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) March 2, 2025

In five games with the Clippers, Simmons is averaging 6.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.4 steals off the bench.

If Simmons is unable to go, this could be a problem for the Clippers (and a big help for the Lakers) given that they are already shorthanded. Currently, they are 32-27 and own the No. 6 seed in the West. If the season ended today, they would avoid the Play-In entirely. However, only one game separates them and the No. 10 seed Dallas Mavericks.

The Clippers are in a good spot to make the playoffs this year, but it is crucial for them that they win as many games as possible from here on out with less than two months remaining in the regular season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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