By Harshit
LOS ANGELES, JAN. 7, 2026 — The Los Angeles Clippers officially opened a new chapter on Wednesday night, hosting the Sacramento Kings just hours after a dramatic trade deadline reshaped the franchise.
With James Harden and Ivica Zubac no longer on the roster, the Clippers entered their first post-trade game with a thin rotation, heavy reliance on Kawhi Leonard, and several players unavailable due to trade-related status.
Injury Report and Roster Availability
The Clippers ruled out Darius Garland, Ben Mathurin, and Isaiah Jackson, all listed as out (trade pending). Bradley Beal was the lone name on the traditional injury report.
Despite the absences, head coach Tyronn Lue pushed forward with a restructured lineup.
Projected Clippers Lineup
Starters
- Kris Dunn
- Kobe Sanders
- Kawhi Leonard
- John Collins
- Brook Lopez
Bench Contributors
- Derrick Jones Jr.
- Nicolas Batum
- Yanic Konan Niederhauser
- Jordan Miller
The availability of Bogdan Bogdanović and Cam Christie remained uncertain entering tipoff.
First-Half Flow: Clippers Lean on Defense and Size
From the opening minutes, Los Angeles focused on defensive rebounding and half-court execution. Brook Lopez controlled the paint early, while Kawhi Leonard operated patiently, conserving energy and picking his spots.
Late in the second quarter:
- 11:50 — Lopez finished a layup off a Batum assist
- 10:32 — John Collins knocked down a mid-range jumper
- 10:29 — Clippers secured an offensive rebound, extending the possession
The Clippers entered halftime with momentum despite limited offensive volume.
Third Quarter: Kawhi Takes Over
The third quarter marked Leonard’s most assertive stretch.
Key live moments
- 04:15 — Kawhi Leonard threw down a powerful dunk off a Kris Dunn assist
- 02:53 — Leonard drilled a deep three from 26 feet
- 02:14 — Leonard secured a defensive rebound, halting a Kings run
Sacramento called a full timeout at 04:18, struggling to slow Leonard’s two-way impact.
Kings’ Struggles Continue
Sacramento entered the night riding a 10-game losing streak, owning the league’s worst record. The Kings made no major trade deadline additions, signaling a likely pivot toward lottery positioning.
Their issues were compounded by the questionable status of Domantas Sabonis, sidelined with lower back soreness.
Despite contributions from DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, Sacramento struggled with shot selection and second-chance defense.
What This Game Represents
This matchup is less about one night and more about direction.
- The Clippers are redefining their identity around defense, size, and Kawhi Leonard
- Leonard has averaged under 31 minutes in recent games due to knee management, but his control remains elite
- Sacramento’s slide continues as motivation shifts toward draft positioning
For Los Angeles, this game represents a stabilizing opportunity — a chance to build continuity amid chaos and show that the post-trade Clippers can still dictate games.