Clippers' Lou Williams Reportedly Leaves NBA Bubble for Excused Personal Reasons

Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams exited the NBA's "bubble" at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida, for personal reasons, according to the Los Angeles Times' Andrew Greif. 

Greif added that Williams "is expected to return soon."

The three-time Sixth Man of the Year winner played over 16 minutes in the Clippers' 99-90 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. He finished with a game-high 22 points.

The Clippers will begin their restart next Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers, and they'll likely be shorthanded when they do.

ESPN's Malika Andrews reported that Patrick Beverley tended to "an emergency personal matter" and left Orlando on Tuesday. Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN reported a "family emergency" also forced Montrezl Harrell to exit the "bubble."

Under the NBA's health and safety protocol, Williams and his Clippers teammates will have to quarantine for at least four days once they return to Orlando before they're allowed full access to the Disney campus again. Players who leave continue to be subject to daily COVID-19 testing.

Especially with Beverley likely out as well, Williams' absence will certainly hurt the Clippers. He averaged 18.7 points while shooting 41.6 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from beyond the arc prior to the NBA suspending the season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Clippers will have a hard time catching the Lakers for first place in the Western Conference since they have eight seeding games to close a 5.5-game gap. They could potentially slip to third, though, since their cushion is just 1.5 games on the Denver Nuggets.

However, as long as Williams is back for the playoffs, Los Angeles' championship hopes shouldn't take a big hit.