The Los Angeles Clippers will be severely short when they face the Lakers on Thursday night to officially restart the NBA season at Walt Disney World.
The Clippers announced Wednesday that Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell will not play Thursday. Patrick Beverly is currently quarantined in his room inside the bubble and was listed as questionable, however, he is unlikely to be ready to go on time as well.
Harrell left the bubble last week to discuss a personal matter and has not yet joined the team. It is unclear when he will return, although he will have to isolate himself for at least four days when he does. Harrell averaged 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game this season when the game was suspended.
Williams is under a 10-day quarantine in the bubble after she stopped at an Atlanta strip club when she was returning from an excused absence to attend a family funeral. Williams insists that the stop was simply picking up chicken wings. Williams was averaging 18.7 points and 5.7 assists per game when play was suspended.
Beverley returned to the bubble on Sunday after leaving for a family emergency last week. A four-day quarantine would release Beverley sometime on Thursday, making him unlikely to play just a few hours later. The 32-year-old averaged 7.9 points and 5.4 rebounds this season.
The Clippers will resume play with a 44-20 record, second best in the Western Conference, and will follow the Lakers for 5.5 games.
The Lakers could be without Anthony Davis
The Clippers can’t be alone in having a weakened roster on Thursday.
Lakers star Anthony Davis could miss the game after suffering an eye injury on Saturday. Davis was hit in the right eye by Michael Carter-Williams during his scrimmage against the Orlando Magic. He reportedly came to practice Tuesday wearing sunglasses and observed the court.
“He is day to day and while he is still dealing with discomfort, there is some concern that he will not be able to play on Thursday,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said Tuesday. “But we are hopeful that it will and we will see how it develops.”
