SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Clippers bounced back from their loss to Denver in the second preseason game, defeating the Sacramento Kings 109-91 at Golden 1 Center on Wednesday night. The victory gave head coach Tyronn Lue his second preseason win and showcased the depth of his revamped roster heading into the regular season.

Second Unit Steals the Show

While the starters laid the foundation, it was the Clippers’ bench unit that truly dominated in Sacramento. John Collins was nothing short of spectacular, erupting for 24 points on an efficient 7-of-8 shooting from the field, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc. The veteran big man also grabbed six rebounds and went a perfect 8-for-10 from the free-throw line in just 18 minutes of action.

Brook Lopez continued his impressive preseason showing, adding 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting with four rebounds and a block in 18 minutes. The 7-footer knocked down four three-pointers, showcasing the floor-spacing ability that makes him such a valuable piece for the Clippers.

Chris Paul orchestrated the offense beautifully off the bench, dishing out 10 assists to go along with eight points in 18 minutes. The veteran point guard’s court vision and leadership were on full display as he helped the second unit outscore Sacramento’s reserves by a considerable margin.

At this point in the preseason, the Clippers’ second unit has been more intriguing than the first. The connectiveness, variability, and name value alone make Los Angeles so threatening all the way down their roster. 

Kawhi Leonard Continues Strong Preseason

Kawhi Leonard led the starting unit with 15 points in 27 minutes, going 5-of-13 from the field. While his shooting percentages weren’t eye-popping, Leonard looked comfortable and in rhythm—exactly what the Clippers need to see after his first fully healthy offseason in years. Through three preseason games, Leonard has now logged 50 total points in 64 minutes, and while he and James Harden are out for the rest of the preseason for rest, he is showing that he’s healthy and ready for opening night.

Kawhi Leonard postgame in Sacramento, where he discussed his now concluded preseason as well as how strong the second unit has looked pic.twitter.com/UTSNYN7Ivr

— Law Murray 🎃 (@LawMurrayTheNU) October 16, 2025

Why the Clippers Won

Los Angeles dominated from start to finish, controlling the pace and dictating terms on both ends of the floor. The Clippers shot 50.6 percent from the field compared to Sacramento’s 40.9 percent, and while neither team shot particularly well from deep, LA’s balanced attack proved too much for the Kings.

The Clippers’ bench outscored Sacramento’s reserves 63-45, with the second unit’s +26 plus-minus from both Lopez and Paul highlighting just how dominant that group was. James Harden facilitated beautifully once again, tallying three assists despite an off shooting night (4-of-10 from the field).

Asked Tyronn Lue about the first and second units.

Said starters need to clean up spacing offensively that led to bad turnovers.

And marveled at how much of a game changer Brook Lopez is and how Collins beats defenses in post/PnR

“They got a really good chemistry right now.” pic.twitter.com/f6SGDPQN0S

— Law Murray 🎃 (@LawMurrayTheNU) October 16, 2025

Sacramento, still looking for their first preseason win after signing Russell Westbrook earlier in the day, got 15 points and 14 rebounds from Domantas Sabonis. However, the Kings shot just 21.4% from three-point range (9-of-42) and couldn’t generate nearly enough offense to stay competitive.

Looking Ahead

The Clippers (2-1) wrap up their preseason schedule Friday when they travel to face the Golden State Warriors. With the regular season opener against the Utah Jazz looming on October 22, Wednesday’s team victory provided more encouragement that this retooled roster is ready to compete, even without Bradley Beal a part of game action yet.