Kings vs. Clippers: Darius Garland scores 30 as the post-Kawhi Clippers rout Sacramento 121-96

The Clippers’ first season opener without Kawhi Leonard since 2019 never got close. Darius Garland scored 30 points, the Clippers led from start to finish, and Los Angeles beat the Sacramento Kings 121-96 on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Intuit Dome in Inglewood.

“Kings vs clippers” drew more than 50,000 US Google searches, with fans also looking up Garland, Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn and the Clippers’ new-look roster and starting lineup.

Kings vs. Clippers: final score and key stats

According to the official scorer’s report, the Clippers led 41-29 after the first quarter, 61-54 at halftime and 93-70 after three. There were zero lead changes, and the Clippers’ biggest lead was 28. The sellout crowd was 17,927.

Clippers - Darius Garland: 30 points on 11-of-19 shooting, 4 assists - Brook Lopez: 17 points, 11 rebounds off the bench - Keaton Wagler (rookie): 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists - Isaiah Jackson: 13 points, 5 rebounds - Gradey Dick: 12 points - Rui Hachimura: 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting, 8 rebounds - Derrick Jones Jr.: 8 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists - Kris Dunn: 7 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds

Kings - Zach LaVine: 28 points on 10-of-19 shooting - Precious Achiuwa: 15 points off the bench - Domantas Sabonis: 14 points, 18 rebounds, 8 assists - Darius Acuff Jr. (rookie): 12 points on 5-of-24 shooting - Keegan Murray: 2 points on 1-of-8 shooting

The AP noted the Clippers’ bench outscored Sacramento’s 53-34.

Garland’s fast start

Before tip-off, Garland addressed the home crowd at midcourt, the Los Angeles Times reported. He then opened 5-for-5 from the field and 3-for-3 from three, scoring 16 points in nine minutes. Acquired from Cleveland in a February trade for James Harden, he is beginning his first full season with the Clippers.

Clippers starting lineup and the new faces

Coach Tyronn Lue started Garland, Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr., Rui Hachimura and Isaiah Jackson, according to the Times. Among the returners, Jones had an alley-oop slam and Dunn did his usual work on defense; the official report credits Dunn with three steals and two blocks.

The new arrivals were mixed. Hachimura, who signed a three-year deal after leaving the Lakers, struggled with his shot. Gradey Dick, part of the offseason trade that sent Leonard back to Toronto, was productive off the bench. And Wagler, the No. 5 pick out of Illinois and the franchise’s highest draft pick since Blake Griffin in 2009, looked comfortable. “He’s already shown that he’s mature,” Lue said before the game, per the Times. Second-round rookie Baba Miller added four points.

The AP, citing the Elias Sports Bureau, reported that the Clippers have the NBA’s largest drop in average age between this roster and the group active for last season’s opener.

The Kawhi Leonard fallout

The backdrop to the night was the league’s punishment of the franchise. According to the AP, the Clippers sent Leonard to the Raptors last month after the NBA found them guilty of violating salary-cap circumvention rules involving him. Owner Steve Ballmer was not in his usual baseline seat; he is serving a one-year suspension from league and team activities, and the team was fined $30 million and lost five consecutive draft picks from 2029 through 2033.

Leonard, for what it’s worth, scored 23 points in Toronto’s opening win over Chicago on the same night.

Injuries

The Clippers played without Bradley Beal (right knee injury management), Brandon Ingram (right heel surgery), Max Strus (right plantar fascia partial tear), Jordan Miller (left rotator cuff surgery) and Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (right foot surgery), per the AP and the official report. The Times reported that Beal, Ingram, Strus and Konan Niederhäuser are progressing but will not travel for Sunday’s game at Oklahoma City.

Sacramento’s inactive list, per the official report, included Monk (left ankle soreness), Cardwell (left calf strain), Raynaud (right knee) and Simmons (right Achilles).

What about predictions?

Plenty of people searched “kings vs clippers prediction” before the game. We don’t make picks; the result is in. The Times noted most outsiders expect the Clippers’ streak of 15 straight seasons above .500 to end this year, which is what makes one dominant night notable but far from conclusive.

FAQ

Who won Kings vs. Clippers? The Clippers won 121-96 at Intuit Dome on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

How many points did Darius Garland score? 30, on 11-of-19 shooting.

Who led the Kings? Zach LaVine, with 28 points; Domantas Sabonis had 14 points and 18 rebounds.

Who started for the Clippers? Garland, Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr., Rui Hachimura and Isaiah Jackson.

When do the Clippers play next? Sunday at Oklahoma City, per the Los Angeles Times.