Advertisement

Clippers beat Sacramento Kings in season opener, 111-104

Clippers point guard Chris Paul makes a pass around Kings point guard Rajon Rondo in the first half.

Clippers point guard Chris Paul makes a pass around Kings point guard Rajon Rondo in the first half.

(Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)
Share

The Clippers won their season opener in Sacramento against the Kings, 111-104, at Sleep Train Arena on Wednesday night.

The Kings erased a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter with a 19-3 run, capped off by a floating jumper by Rudy Gay that give the Kings a one-point lead, 93-92, with less than seven minutes left.

Paul Pierce, the Clippers’ newest fourth-quarter weapon, responded by making a three-pointer and went on to make a fadeaway jumper with 2 minutes 21 seconds left to give the Clippers a 102-100 lead. The Clippers closed the game with an 11-4 run.

Advertisement

Blake Griffin had a game-high 33 points on 14-for-20 shooting from the field, eight rebounds and four assists. Chris Paul had 18 points and 11 assists. J.J. Redick added 15 points while Pierce and Jamal Crawford combined for 23 points off the bench.

Griffin seemingly didn’t miss a step following a 2015 postseason in which many were saying that he was arguably the best complete player in the playoffs before the Clippers got eliminated by the Houston Rockets in Game 7 of the second round. Griffin averaged postseason career highs in points (25.5), field-goal percentage (51.1%), rebounds (12.7) and assists (6.1).

DeMarcus Cousins led the Kings with 32 points and 13 rebounds.

The Clippers outshot the Kings from the field, 52.5% to 43.6%. The Clippers were sent to the free-throw line 31 times and made 21 -- scoring more points on free throws than the Kings even attempted (18). Both teams were a bit shaky with the ball, combining for 33 turnovers; the Clippers had 15. The Kings outrebounded the Clippers, 49-42.

The Clippers will play the Dallas Mavericks in their home opener Thursday. They will then have a rematch with at the Kings on Saturday, when they host them on Halloween night.

Advertisement