Kobe Sanders leads Clippers past Warriors in preseason finale
Usa today news
Clippers guard Chris Paul, right, smiles on the bench next to forward Kawhi Leonard during the first half of a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Friday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Clippers forward/center John Collins (20) grabs the pass as he is double teamed by Golden State Warriors center Al Horford (20) and Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) in the second quarter during an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Warriors guard StepheCurry (30) drives to the basket against Clippers forward Kobe Brown (24) during the first half of a preseason game in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Clippers forward Kobe Brown, middle, tries to control the ball between Golden State Warriors guard Will Richard, left, and forward Gui Santos (15) during the first half of a preseason game in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II, left, shoots in front of Clippers guard Jordan Miller during the first half of a preseason game in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Clippers guard Kobe Sanders (4) is congratulated by center Yanic Konan Niederhauser (14) and forward John Collins (20) after scoring and being fouled during the first half of a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry, middle, drives to the basket between Clippers guard Kobe Sanders, left, and guard Bogdan Bogdanović during the first half of a preseason game in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue gestures during the first half of a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski, left, collides with Clippers forward Kobe Brown (24) during the first half of a preseason game in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr gestures toward officials during the first half of a preseason game against the Clippers in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Clippers guard Patrick Baldwin Jr. shoots against Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos during the second half of a preseason game in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Warriors guard Will Richard dunks during the first half of a preseason game against the Clippers in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Clippers rookie center Yanic Konan Niederhauser, middle, loses the ball while driving to the basket against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, left, and center/forward Al Horford, right, during the second half of a preseason game in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry reacts after making a 3-point shot during the second half of a preseason game against the Clippers in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Clippers rookie center Yanic Konan Niederhauser, left, goes up to dunk against Golden State Warriors center Quinten Post (21) during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Clippers rookie center Yanic Konan Niederhauser (14) reacts after dunking next to Golden State Warriors center Quinten Post (21) during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry (30) drives through a Clippers double-team to make a pass to teammate Trayce Jackson-Davis (32), who scored in the fourth quarter of the preseason game on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at the Chase Center in San Francisco. (Clippers Warriors Basketball/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield, right, is congratulated by teammate Steph Curry after making a 3-point basket during the second half of a preseason game against the Clippers in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Clippers guard Kobe Sanders drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos during the second half of a preseason game on Friday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Warriors center/forward Al Horford shoots during the first half of a preseason game against the Clippers in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Clippers guard Chris Paul, left, talks with Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry after an NBA preseason basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard walks toward the bench during the first half of their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
1 of 22
Clippers guard Chris Paul, right, smiles on the bench next to forward Kawhi Leonard during the first half of a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Friday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
SAN FRANCISCO — With a trio of future Hall of Famers sitting out, the Clippers’ preseason finale was a chance for Bradley Beal to shake off some rust and a pair of rookies to flash some promise.
Beal had 12 points on 6-for-9 shooting in 15 first-half minutes before calling it a night, while Kobe Sanders had 25 points and Yanic Konan Niederhauser had 13 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots in the Clippers’ 106-103 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night at the Chase Center.
Sanders shot 8 for 15 from the field (4 for 9 from 3-point range) and 5 for 6 from the free-throw line in 37 minutes. Niederhauser shot 5 for 10 from the field and added three assists in 26 minutes. Cam Christie added 12 points in 12 minutes, Jordan Miller had seven points and six rebounds, while Kobe Brown had six points and nine rebounds.
Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Chris Paul, Brook Lopez and Nicolas Batum all sat out for the Clippers, while veterans Ivica Zubac, Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn joined Beal in calling it a night at halftime. Friday was Beal’s only appearance in the Clippers’ four preseason games.
The Clippers’ season opener is Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.