The Clippers will face the Lakers on Wednesday without Rui Hachimura, who is sidelined with left quad soreness. Coach Tyronn Lue named Kobe Sanders the starter in his place, shifting the lineup as Los Angeles adjusts to Hachimura’s absence from a larger offensive role.

By the Numbers
  • Sanders scored 12 points in 20 minutes against Oklahoma City, with 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.
  • Sanders made 2 of 5 3-point attempts and was on the court for an 11-point Clippers advantage during his minutes.
  • Hachimura had 16 points and 6 rebounds against the Lakers on Friday, shooting 3 of 6 from 3-point range.
  • Sanders made 16 starts in 68 appearances during his rookie season.
Yes, But

Sanders’ productive outing and prior starting experience give the Clippers a ready option, but one game’s plus-minus does not prove his individual impact. Replacing Hachimura also means redistributing touches that had been directed toward him as an aggressive scorer.

State of Play
  • Hachimura developed the soreness after Sunday’s game and missed Tuesday’s practice; no return date was provided.
  • Sanders moves from the bench into the starting lineup for Wednesday’s matchup.
  • The Clippers-Lakers game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Pacific time.
Bottom Line

Hachimura’s absence removes a key scoring option against his former team, putting Sanders in the spotlight and forcing the Clippers to adjust both their starting five and offensive workload.