Clippers coach Tyronn Lue already had an inkling on how well point guard Darius Garland pairs with Isaiah Jackson. He had seen plenty during the team’s weeklong training camp and got confirmation early in their preseason opener against the Golden State Warriors, as the duo combined on two thundering alley-oop plays to kickstart Sunday’s game.
But it was the combined play of Rui Hachimura and Garland that grabbed Lue’s attention Sunday as the former Lakers forward scored 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting (4 for 5 from 3-point range), four of his baskets coming off passes from Garland, during the first half of a last-second 104-101 victory at the University of Hawaii’s Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.
Garland connected on all four of his shots from the field, including three 3-pointers and went 4 for 5 at the free-throw line, finishing with 15 points, six assists and three rebounds.
After Garland hit three free throws, Hachimura scored on a turnaround jump shot and followed that with a step-back jumper with 4:38 left in the first half. The starters took a seat at halftime with the Clippers holding a 55-43 lead.
The Clippers’ reserves struggled to stay ahead as Golden State took advantage of mistakes and poor shooting to push the game to the final seconds.
Rookie guard Keaton Wagler, who labored to make shots in his Clippers preseason debut, made a 19-foot jumper to give the Clippers a 102-101 lead with 14 seconds remaining. Cam Christie knocked down two free throws with three seconds left to seal the victory.
Wagler scored 15 points despite his 3-of-15 shooting from the field (1 for 11 from 3-point range) to go with six rebounds, three assists, two steals and one blocked shot. He was 8 for 9 from the free-throw line.
Four-time NBA champion Steph Curry had 10 points and two assists in 13 minutes. Charles Bassey led the Warriors with 12 points.
Max Strus, who came to the Clippers in a five-team trade, started the game but left the court at the 7:10 mark of the first quarter with a foot injury and did not return.
The Clippers return from Hawaii this week before heading to Vancouver to play the Toronto Raptors in their second preseason game on Saturday night. Kawhi Leonard, who the Clippers traded to the Raptors last month, will not play as he ramps up his training.
The Clippers close out the preseason against the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 14 at Intuit Dome.
Kobe Sanders, who is viewed as a solid backup to Hachimura, did not play after suffering a hip impingement this week during training camp. He did not take part in Saturday’s practice but did individual work. No timetable has been given for his return.