LA Clippers vs Washington Wizards: preview and player stats

Miller underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a torn left rotator cuff and will be re-evaluated in six months, per Law Murray of The Athletic. It's a tough break for Miller, who had an opportunity to battle for a reserve role during training camp in the fall. The timeline for a return is likely to keep him on the shelf until after the All-Star break. Miller's extended stay on the sidelines gives Kobe Sanders a chance to crack the Clippers' rotation.

Ingram (Achilles) has been ruled out for Tuesday's game at Phoenix, Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com reports. Ingram is nearing a return to action, though he won't make his season debut Tuesday. The veteran swingman's next opportunity to suit up will come Friday against Oklahoma City.

Beal (knee) will not be ready for the start of the regular season, NBA writer Justin Russo reports. Beal is dealing with knee inflammation that will keep him sidelined for Opening Night. While it's unclear how long the Clippers will be without the veteran guard, Darius Garland, Keaton Wagler and Kris Dunn should dominate the backcourt minutes in his absence. Beal's 2025-26 campaign was cut short by a hip injury after he averaged 8.2 points and 1.7 assists in 20.6 minutes across just six regular-season appearances.

Niederhauser (foot) is out for Tuesday's game against Phoenix, Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com reports. Niederhauser has yet to make an appearance this season for the Clippers while rehabbing from foot surgery. It's unclear at this time when he'll be available to take the court, and he can be considered week-to-week until further notice.

Christie (ankle) is listed as out for Tuesday's game against Phoenix. Christie will miss his fifth game of the 2026-27 campaign. The 21-year-old rookie has averaged only 6.0 minutes per contest in his five regular-season appearances, so his absence won't have much of an effect on the rotation.

The Wizards announced Thursday that Watkins has undergone surgery for a torn ACL. Watkins, a two-way player for the Wizards, suffered the injury during the Summer League. Although Washington has yet to offer a timetable for a return, a typical recovery time for the procedure is approximately 9-to-12 months. That leaves Watkins in serious jeopardy of missing most, if not all, of the 2026-27 season, and it remains to be seen if the team will continue keeping him around on a two-way roster spot while he's injured.

Champagnie (foot) is expected to miss several months, per Josh Robbins of The Athletic. The forward underwent surgery Wednesday to address a fractured foot, and the Wizards hope Champagnie will be ready to return at some time around the All-Star break in February. The likes of Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson and Bub Carrington will all be asked to help pick up the slack for the foreseeable future.

Vukcevic (hip) has been ruled out for Monday's game against Detroit. Vukcevic has yet to make his season debut due to a left hip impingement. The big man can be viewed as week-to-week until the Wizards provide an update on his progress.

The Wizards announced Monday that Beekman sustained a right acromioclavicular joint injury and will be re-evaluated in approximately three weeks. Beekman is set for an extended absence, with his re-evaluation timeline suggesting he could remain sidelined beyond the initial three-week window. The injury further limits Washington's backcourt depth, though Beekman's absence is unlikely to have a significant impact on standard fantasy leagues.