Three Storylines to Monitor in Clippers’ Season Opener vs. Kings

The Sacramento Kings come to Intuit Dome to face the Los Angeles Clippers in the season opener on Wednesday, Oct. 21, and neither side will be at full strength.

ESPN lists forward Brandon Ingram, guard Bradley Beal, guard Max Strus and center Yanic Konan Niederhauser among the players out for Los Angeles, which leaves head coach Tyronn Lue with a short rotation to start the year.

Sacramento lost guard Ben Simmons when he tore his right Achilles tendon in practice on Sunday, Oct. 18, which ended his comeback with the Kings before the season began.

ESPN also has centers Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell out and guard Malik Monk listed as day-to-day with a sore left ankle, all on a team coming off a 22-60 season.

Lue named center Isaiah Jackson the starting center for the first week of the season at practice on Saturday, Oct. 17, and his first job will be dealing with center Domantas Sabonis.

Sabonis played only 19 games last season but still averaged 11.4 rebounds, so he can control the boards when he is on the floor.

I like this matchup for the Clippers because Sabonis has little help behind him with Raynaud and Cardwell both out.

If Jackson runs the floor hard and makes Sabonis chase him on every trip, I think the Kings will feel it late in the game.

The Clippers had Jackson with the first unit in training camp, and his speed is why I expect a long night for Sabonis.

Guard Keaton Wagler, the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, started next to guard Darius Garland in the preseason finale against the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 14, and Garland has enjoyed sharing the backcourt with the rookie.

Lue liked what he saw too, according to comments reported by Justin Russo.

"He's been good. Running the plays for him, give him the ball, get it in his hands with a live dribble. But he can also handle the pressure as well," Lue said.

Wagler will line up across from guard Darius Acuff Jr., who went No. 7 in the same draft, and The Associated Press reported that Sacramento is trying to rebuild around him.

With Simmons gone, I expect the Kings to put the ball in Acuff's hands a lot, so Wagler gets an early chance to show he can guard a fellow rookie.

Garland came over from Cleveland and averaged 19.9 points and 6.4 assists in 19 games with the Clippers last season, and with Ingram, Beal and Strus out, he has to score more.

Lue has talked about how much the team will miss Strus and his shooting, so Garland cannot afford a slow night with guard Zach LaVine on the other side putting up points for the Kings.

My pick is the Clippers, as long as Jackson keeps Sabonis off the glass and Garland gets to 20 points, because Sacramento does not have enough healthy bodies to lose both of those battles.

A home win would also give the Clippers a good start before they visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, Oct. 23.