Clippers Route Kings 121-96 in Season Opener Without Suspended Owner Ballmer

The Los Angeles Clippers kicked off their 2026-27 NBA season on Wednesday night with a dominant 121-96 victory over the Sacramento Kings at the Intuit Dome. Playing their first season opener without Kawhi Leonard since 2019, the Clippers never trailed and controlled the game from the opening tip in front of 17,927 fans.

Darius Garland led all scorers with 30 points, shooting efficiently to jump-start the Los Angeles offense. Brook Lopez contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, while rookie guard Keaton Wagler added 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists in his professional debut. Rui Hachimura chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds in his first appearance for the franchise after arriving from the Lakers.

The bench performance proved pivotal as the Clippers' reserves outscored the Kings' bench 53-34. Zach LaVine led Sacramento with 28 points, and Domantas Sabonis recorded a double-double with 14 points and 18 rebounds, but the visitors struggled to mount a sustained comeback after falling behind by as many as 28 points.

Noticeably absent from his usual courtside seat near the team bench was Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. He is currently serving a one-year suspension from all league and team activities following an NBA investigation that found the franchise guilty of salary cap circumvention rules related to Kawhi Leonard. The organization was also fined $30 million and forced to forfeit five consecutive draft picks from 2029 through 2033.

Following the game, head coach Tyronn Lue dedicated the victory to the billionaire owner. "First off, that win was for Mr. Ballmer," Lue told reporters. "You know, just want to say thank you for everything, and we're still fighting for him." Garland echoed the sentiment regarding the Intuit Dome, which Ballmer financed, noting that the team felt his energy in spirit despite his absence.

The roster itself underwent a significant overhaul during the offseason. Alongside trading Leonard to the Toronto Raptors last month, the organization parted ways with James Harden and Chris Paul previously, resulting in the largest drop in average age across the NBA compared to last year's opening roster, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Both teams dealt with substantial injury concerns entering the matchup. The Clippers played without Bradley Beal, Brandon Ingram, Max Strus, Jordan Miller, and Yanic Konan Niederhauser, while the Kings played without Malik Monk, Dylan Cardwell, Maxime Raynaud, and Ben Simmons.

With the win moving them to 1-0 on the young season, the Clippers will prepare to face Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. Meanwhile, the Sacramento Kings look to bounce back when they host Portland on the same evening.