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The LA Clippers are facing a challenging start to the 2026-27 regular season, as injuries have sidelined a significant portion of their roster. With just one week remaining before the season opener, Brandon Ingram, Max Strus, Bradley Beal, Jordan Miller, Kobe Sanders, and Yanic Konan Niederhauser are all dealing with various ailments.
On Tuesday, head coach Tyronn Lue shared that Ingram is gradually increasing his activity in practice but is still far from being ready for NBA game action. "He's been increasing, he's been ramping up," Lue said. "He's doing a lot more, so just seeing him on the floor, that's a good sign. It's going to still take some time, it's going to be a while, but just seeing him on the floor being able to do certain things has been good to see."
Max Strus tore his plantar fascia merely five minutes into the first preseason game against the Golden State Warriors. He is slated for re-evaluation in about three weeks, but that does not signal an imminent return. A realistic recovery timeline for such an injury is typically six to eight weeks from the date of occurrence. "It's tough, but like I told him, we're going to wait for him," Lue remarked. "We're going to hold the fort down until we get our guys back. It's unfortunate what happened but it's part of the game."
Bradley Beal is managing inflammation in his right knee as he works to regain full fitness. Although he has nearly fully recovered from a hip injury, the knee inflammation arose during his offseason ramp-up. "He's like Max, he can move without the basketball, coming off screens, pick the pickers, his movement causes confusion," Lue added. "He's been getting better. Rehab is going pretty good so we'll see where he's at. We don't know the timetable, just basically making sure he feels good before he steps on the floor."
Key Analysis
With multiple rotation players unavailable, the Clippers will likely lean heavily on Darius Garland and Rui Hachimura to shoulder the load early on. The team's depth will be tested as they aim to stay competitive until their injured stars return. The regular season tips off on Wednesday, October 21st, when the Clippers host the Sacramento Kings.
Originally reported by yahoo.