Bones Hyland injures ankle in Clippers’ preseason loss against Nuggets

With his impressive crossovers and hesitation moves, Bones Hyland showcased his skills against his former team on Thursday night.

However, in a turn of events, the third-year guard suffered a sprained left ankle in the third quarter, making it challenging for him to reach the Clippers‘ locker room. Teammates and staffers provided support as Hyland hobbled off the court.

Unfortunately, Hyland’s injury prevented him from continuing his impressive performance against his former team. Nevertheless, there is initial optimism that the sprained ankle may not sideline him for the upcoming games, according to a confidential source.

In the final preseason exhibition, the Clippers (2-2), without their key players, suffered a 103-90 defeat against the Nuggets who had their stars in action.

After experiencing numerous injuries in the past few seasons, the Clippers are cautious about any new injury. Having Hyland available is highly valued by the team. The 23-year-old guard stood out during the preseason as a reserve point guard, displaying his defensive capabilities.

Teammate Kawhi Leonard praised Hyland’s performance, stating, “He’s going to be big for us. He has the talent to do great things, and hopefully, he can showcase it even more this season.”

In the absence of Leonard, Russell Westbrook, and Paul George, Hyland stepped up as the starting point guard for the Clippers, making all ten of his field goals inside the paint. He smoothly maneuvered past his former teammates, including Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon, and earned himself eight free-throw attempts. Hyland also contributed with seven rebounds and six assists.

Jokic scored 25 points, and Jamal Murray added eight points in the game, marking Denver coach Michael Malone’s return following the passing of his father, former NBA coach Brendan Malone.

Coach Tyronn Lue decided to give Leonard, Westbrook, and George a rest in the preseason finale, as they had shown promising performances earlier.

Read more: Clippers are still working to solve year-old riddle: How much depth is too much?

Lue expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance in training camp and emphasized the need to continue refining their identity as they prepare for the regular-season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Although the decision on the starting power forward for Wednesday’s game has been made, Lue chose not to reveal the final starter. Robert Covington, Terance Mann, and Nicolas Batum have all auditioned for the role during the preseason, but other candidates are also being considered.

Lue discussed the defensive capabilities of the trio, stating that Mann possesses excellent versatility and can guard players in multiple positions, while Covington excels in off-ball defense and Batum is adept at guarding larger opponents in addition to his versatility in the backcourt.

Norman Powell and Terance Mann filled in for Leonard and George in the starting lineup, while Covington started his second preseason game as the power forward.

Brandon Boston Jr. missed his third preseason game due to a leg contusion, and Marcus Morris Sr. was absent for his fourth consecutive game due to a groin injury.

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This story was originally published in the Los Angeles Times.