White Out Week With Strained Back; Clippers Down to 9 Able-Bodied Players

Forward Rory White of the Clippers will be out indefinitely after straining his lower back Monday night in the Clippers’ 140-112 loss at Denver.

White was hospitalized overnight for observation after he was injured in the second quarter. He didn’t accompany the team back to Los Angeles Tuesday morning. However, White was released Tuesday afternoon and was examined in Los Angeles by Dr. Tony Daly, who termed it a bad back sprain. Daly said White might be able to return next week.

White was averaging 6.1 points and 2.3 rebounds in 33 games this season.

With White sidelined, the Clippers will have nine healthy players for Thursday night’s game against the Utah Jazz at the Sports Arena. Forward Kenny Fields has a strained groin, but he’s expected to play against the Jazz.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. It’s unreal,” General Manager Elgin Baylor said of the Clippers’ injury problems. “It’s endless.”