Clippers Begin Regular Season With 121-96 Victory Over Kings
Darius Garland led the Los Angeles Clippers with 30 points in an opening-night win at Intuit Dome following a turbulent offseason.
The Los Angeles Clippers tipped off their 2026-27 NBA regular season on Wednesday night with a dominant 121-96 victory over the Sacramento Kings at the Intuit Dome. Facing a wave of organizational questions following a chaotic offseason that included moving on from Kawhi Leonard and dealing with league sanctions regarding salary-cap circumvention, the Clippers responded with an encouraging performance on their home floor.
Darius Garland spearheaded the offensive effort, pouring in 30 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the field. Garland controlled the tempo throughout the evening, distributing the ball effectively and helping Los Angeles maintain command of the contest through the second half. His opening-night production reinforced his evolving role as a central pillar of the team's offense since joining the franchise in February.
Support came from various contributors across the roster. Center Brook Lopez delivered a strong double-double performance with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Meanwhile, Isaiah Jackson chipped in 13 points off the bench, building momentum as he steps into his responsibilities for the new campaign after battling an ankle injury late last season.
Rookie additions also provided reasons for optimism within the organization. Keaton Wagler, the No. 5 overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft, impressed during his 29 minutes of action off the bench, contributing 15 points and five assists. Gradey Dick added 12 points to round out a balanced offensive attack that saw the Clippers shoot 52.4 percent overall and connect on 40 percent of their attempts from beyond the arc.
On the opposing side, the Sacramento Kings experienced a difficult night despite solid outings from established veterans. Zach LaVine paced Sacramento with 28 points, while Domantas Sabonis recorded 14 points and 18 rebounds. However, the Kings struggled to generate consistent secondary scoring and faced severe defensive issues against the sharp-shooting Clippers.
Sacramento rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr., selected seventh overall in the recent draft, endured a challenging NBA debut. The former Arkansas standout tallied 12 points and three assists but struggled from the floor, making just five of his 24 field-goal attempts and missing all seven of his three-point tries.
The Clippers capitalized on defensive pressure, forcing 14 steals and steadily building their advantage to as many as 23 points heading into the fourth quarter. While a single opening-night victory does not resolve all the structural and organizational challenges facing Los Angeles, the emphatic win served as a strong statement to kick off the new basketball year.