Powell’s Injury Worsens! Are the Clippers in Trouble Again?

The Los Angeles Clippers might be in serious trouble.

Just when they were hoping to gear up for a strong playoff push, bad news struck: Norman Powell’s injury has worsened. Initially listed with left knee soreness, his diagnosis has now escalated to patellar tendinopathy in his left knee.

This type of injury isn’t uncommon among NBA players, but its severity varies. Some cases, like Anfernee Simons in the 2021-22 season, resulted in a season-ending absence. Others, like Taurean Prince last season, only required a short rest before returning to action. If Powell’s condition is mild, a conservative treatment approach could see him back soon. But if it’s a moderate or severe case, rehabilitation could take 2-4 weeks—or even longer.

For the Clippers, losing Powell at this stage is a massive blow.

Powell’s Career Year Cut Short

This season, Powell has been playing the best basketball of his career.

Before his injury, he had appeared in 45 games, averaging:

• 24.2 points
• 3.6 rebounds
• 2.2 assists
• 49.6% FG / 42.8% 3PT / 81.9% FT
• 63.3% true shooting percentage

To put that into perspective, Powell ranks 18th in the entire NBA in scoring while maintaining elite efficiency.

And the numbers don’t lie—the Clippers simply aren’t the same team without him:

• With Powell on the floor: 115.4 offensive rating, +7.4 net rating
• Without Powell: 104.7 offensive rating, -2.9 net rating
• Clippers’ record when Powell plays: 31-18
• Clippers’ record when Powell sits: 4-8

Before his injury, Powell dropped a season-high 41 points against the Utah Jazz, shooting 13-of-26 from the field, 5-of-10 from three, and 10-of-13 from the line. Then, he went to the All-Star Weekend three-point contest in great spirits. But now? He’s sidelined indefinitely.

The Clippers Are Feeling the Pressure

Since Powell went down, the Clippers haven’t won a single game.

Their post-All-Star nightmare so far:

• 110-116 loss to the Bucks – Harden, Leonard, and Zubac all scored 20+, but it still wasn’t enough.
• 111-129 loss to the Pacers – Leonard sat out, Harden put up 31-7-11, but the team was never in control.
• 97-106 loss to the Pistons – Powell and Leonard both missed the game, Harden shot 5-of-22, finishing with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists.

With Kawhi Leonard already missing 32 games this season, the Clippers have essentially been operating without a $50 million per year superstar. Now, Powell is out too, leaving James Harden as the team’s only consistent scoring option.

The problem? Harden isn’t in his prime anymore.

Even in his Houston days, carrying an offense for an entire game was exhausting. Now, at 34, it’s even harder. Playing five road games in seven days? Nearly impossible.

After the loss to the Pistons, even head coach Tyronn Lue admitted the issue:

"Harden was clearly exhausted. We shouldn’t have asked him to play nearly 40 minutes on a back-to-back. That’s on me."

That’s nice to say, but reality doesn’t care—two days later, the Clippers face the Bulls, and if Powell and Leonard are still out, Harden might have to carry the load again. Unless Bogdan Bogdanović delivers a surprise performance, things could get worse before they get better.

The Clippers Are Sliding Down the West Standings

The Western Conference is brutal this year.

After this three-game losing streak, the Clippers now sit at 31-26, clinging to the 6th seed. But the margin is razor-thin:

• Golden State (30-27) is just 0.5 games behind in 9th.
• Another loss or two? The Clippers could be out of the top six and fighting just to make the play-in tournament.

The worst part? The playoffs are even scarier.

Leonard has rested nearly all season in preparation for the playoffs. But now? He’s still not fully healthy, and Powell is out indefinitely.

And that leaves Harden carrying a team that was supposed to have three stars.

The Clippers’ Season Hangs in the Balance

If Powell’s injury turns out to be minor, the Clippers can breathe a sigh of relief. But if he’s out long-term, their season could spiral out of control.

Powell’s timely scoring, spacing, and efficiency are critical for this team. Without him, Harden is overworked, Leonard is still recovering, and the Clippers are running out of reliable options.

If things don’t turn around soon, this might be another year of frustration for Clippers fans—a season that started with championship dreams but could end in bitter disappointment.