Clippers win their first opener without Kawhi Leonard as Ballmer sits out

The Clippers played their first season opener without Kawhi Leonard since 2019 on Wednesday, and the first night went smoothly. Darius Garland scored 30 points, LA never trailed, and the Clippers beat the Sacramento Kings 121-96 at Intuit Dome.

The backdrop is what makes this one worth talking about. The NBA found the Clippers violated salary cap-circumvention rules involving Leonard, according to the Associated Press, and the team traded him to Toronto last month. The league fined the franchise $30 million, took five consecutive draft picks from 2029 through 2033 and suspended owner Steve Ballmer for a year from all league and team activities. Ballmer's baseline seat near the bench sat without him.

Leonard, meanwhile, scored 23 points in Toronto's 135-92 win over Chicago earlier in the evening.

The new Clippers are younger and faster. AP cited the Elias Sports Bureau in saying LA has the NBA's largest drop in average age from last year's opening-night group. Garland shot 11 of 19 and took over as the lead scorer. Rookie Keaton Wagler had 15 points, five rebounds and five assists. Brook Lopez came off the bench for 17 points and 11 rebounds, and the reserves outscored Sacramento's 53-34. LA had 27 fast-break points.

That came with Bradley Beal, Brandon Ingram and Max Strus all out with injuries. Rui Hachimura had 10 points and eight rebounds in his first game after coming over from the Lakers.

Sacramento never led. Zach LaVine scored 28 and Domantas Sabonis had 14 points and 18 rebounds, but rookie Darius Acuff Jr. went 5 of 24 and the Kings shot 16 of 28 at the line.

One win over a Kings team that missed its free throws is not proof the Clippers dodged the fallout. The lost picks run from 2029 through 2033, and Ballmer's suspension lasts a year. For one night, though, Garland made the post-Kawhi Clippers look like a functioning team.

They visit the Lakers on Friday. Sacramento hosts Portland.