with Kawhi Leonard went and Brandon Ingram, Max Strusand Jordan Miller among several players unavailable through injury to open the season, Clippers head coach Tyrone Lue faces the most difficult task in the 2026/27 season, writes Law Murray of The Athletic. The Clippers got off to a good start on Wednesday with a 121-96 win over Sacramento.
Lue and several Clippers players spoke in their postgame media sessions about the team owner’s absence Steve Ballmerwho is suspended for the entire ’26/27 season for violating the NBA’s salary cap rules. How Beth Harris of the Associated Press relay, Darius Garland and Brooke Lopez said they missed Ballmer’s “energy” on the sidelines of the Intuit Dome, and Lue dedicated the win to the Clippers’ owner.
“Firstly, this victory was for Mr. Ballmer,” Liu said. “Just want to say thank you for everything and we’re still fighting for him. … We keep him in our hearts. He provided a great life for everyone in this arena. One of the best people I know.”
According to the reviewer Miriam Swanson of The Los Angeles TimesThe Clippers should be more focused on “fighting” for their fans, not the billionaire owner who was embroiled in a cap scandal that cost the organization five first-round picks. While the organization allowed 4,000 customers to exchange Leonard’s No. 2 jersey for a new one, Swenson claims the team’s efforts to thank fans did not go “far enough.”
We’ve got more from across the Pacific:
- Walker Kessler‘s Lakers The regular season debut couldn’t have gone much better, according to Tuc Ni Nguyen of The Los Angeles Timeswhich notes that 12 free-throw attempts were the most by a Laker since Wilt Chamberlain in a 14-on-14 game in 1969. Head coach Jay Jay Reddick praised Kesler for his “end-to-end transition” that led to several easy baskets, per Law Murray of The Athletic. “Contrary to my name, I run a lot” Kesler was ironic after he had 26 points and nine rebounds in Los Angeles’ blowout win over Golden State.
- The Lakers led by 35 points in Wednesday’s opener and won by 22, but Luka Doncic believes that we have yet to see the best version of the team, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “It’s just the first game. I think our ceiling is even higher.” – said Doncic. Ziair WilliamsWorld Health Organization got a place in the starting five after signing a minimum wage deal with Los Angeles over the summer, agreed with Doncic’s assessment: “We have a great starting five and a great unit behind us. All the holes are filled and the puzzle is complete. … Luka and (Austin Reeves) great players. Walker has a good feel around the rim. Honestly, it’s the perfect setup. There will be many more to come.”
- After playing all 82 regular season games – and six postseason contests – for The sun last season Very Igadara exited Wednesday’s regular season game early with a right hip injury, writes Dwayne Rankin of the Arizona Republic. The severity of the injury is not yet known, but Igadara was ruled out for the rest of the night after suffering the injury in the second quarter.
- In case you missed it, we’ve rounded up some Warriors notes earlier today.
