The Los Angeles Clippers edged out the Golden State Warriors 104-101 in their 2026 NBA preseason opener in Hawaii, holding off a late surge from the Warriors. The Clippers led by as many as 13 points in the second quarter, but the Warriors fought back to take the lead late in the fourth. Rookie Keaton Wagler’s jump shot in the final 30 seconds swung the game back to the Clippers, who sealed the win behind 15 points from their top draft pick from Illinois.
Golden State’s first game together since their 2025-26 season ended with a postseason play-in loss saw 18 players hit the court for coach Steve Kerr. The Warriors started strong, with rookie Yaxel Lendeborg opening the scoring with a corner three-pointer early on. However, the Clippers responded in the second quarter, with Darius Garland and Rui Hachimura pushing Los Angeles to a double-digit advantage.
Despite trailing by double figures, the Warriors chipped away at the lead and entered the final quarter down by just four points. Malevy Leones played a key role in the comeback effort, scoring eight points in the fourth quarter. The Warriors briefly took the lead with under 30 seconds left, but Wagler’s clutch jumper swung momentum back to the Clippers.
Four Warriors scored in double figures, including Stephen Curry, who made an impact in just 13 minutes. Curry scored 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting, including two three-pointers, and added two rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Veteran big man Charles Bassey led the team with 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds in 16 minutes, narrowly missing a double-double.
New addition Brandon Williams and rookie Graham Ike also contributed 11 points each off the bench. Lendeborg, despite struggling to score with just four points on 1-of-6 shooting, led Golden State in rebounding with nine boards and added three assists in 19 minutes.
After finishing training camp in Hawaii, the Warriors will return to the Bay Area to face the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center on Tuesday, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. Pacific Time. The preseason opener offered glimpses of the Warriors’ depth and youth, but the Clippers left with the win in a tightly contested matchup.
According to Yahoo Sports.