Clippers’ Reggie Jackson the latest to enter NBA’s COVID protocols

Starting guard Reggie Jackson on Wednesday became the second Clippers player currently in the NBA’s health and safety protocols when the team announced he had been ruled out hours before that night’s tipoff in Sacramento.

Guard Luke Kennard will also miss Wednesday’s game because of a hip issue, the team said.

To bolster a depleted backcourt the Clippers have called up guards Keon Johnson and Jay Scrubb from the team’s G League affiliate. Johnson, a rookie, and Scrubb, who is in his second season, had been away from the Clippers while on a G League assignment but will now be available to play against the Kings.

Jackson joins starting forward Marcus Morris Sr. in the league’s coronavirus-related health and safety protocols and the more than 80 players across the league who have entered in the last eight days.

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“You can’t get a rhythm, you know, of how we want to play with all of our guys here, but everyone’s dealing with the same thing,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said Monday. “I talked to four or five coaches around the league that’s frustrated with the same thing.”

The absences of Jackson and Kennard — and backup center Isaiah Hartenstein, who will miss a second consecutive game with an ankle injury — deal a blow to a team that has struggled to generate consistent offense. Kennard had made 52.8% of his three-pointers in December, the league’s sixth-best accuracy among players who have taken at least 20 three-pointers this month. Jackson has averaged 17.2 points and 4.2 assists this season while remaining, to this point, notably durable, having started every game for the Clippers (16-15).

The Kings are currently without seven players because of health and safety protocols.