The Los Angeles Clippers kicked off preseason with a dominant 142-95 victory over the Guangzhou Loong-Lions on Thursday at Frontwave Arena. The 47-point margin highlighted LA’s depth in a lopsided affair.
Clippers took control early in the first quarter. They edged ahead 33-30 after Kawhi Leonard drained three triples off James Harden assists.
Victor Oladipo sparked Guangzhou with seven points. He hit a step-back jumper and converted free throws after a Kris Dunn foul.
Ivica Zubac added six points inside for LA. He grabbed offensive rebounds and finished with a tip dunk.
Tim Frazier tallied 10 points for the visitors. His deep three forced a Clippers timeout midway through the frame.
Harden dished five assists in the period. He set up Leonard for a 24-footer that tied the score at 17-17.
Los Angeles pulled away in the second quarter. They outscored Guangzhou 36-34 to lead 69-64 at halftime.
John Collins erupted off the bench with 10 points. He dunked twice and sank a pull-up jumper over Frank Kaminsky.
Oladipo reached 19 points by the break. He threw down an alley-oop and added free throws after a clear-path foul.
Leonard finished the half with 18 points on 5-of-8 from three. All came in limited minutes before sitting.
Liu Yancheng contributed nine points from deep. He buried two triples but picked up a shooting foul.
Clippers unleashed in the third quarter. They poured in 42 points to Guangzhou’s eight, ballooning the lead to 111-72.
Chris Paul ignited the run with 12 points. He splashed three triples, including one off Jordan Miller’s assist.
Brook Lopez added nine points and two blocks. He swatted a Frazier layup and hit a floating jumper.
Guohao Chen scored four for the Loong-Lions. He drew technical free throws but missed two others.
Dunn notched four points and two steals. He stripped Frazier and converted the turnover into freebies.
Guangzhou managed just two field goals in the frame. Turnovers plagued them with 11 miscues.
Fourth quarter saw LA cruise to the blowout. They added 31 points while holding Guangzhou to 23.
Miller led the reserves with 11 points. He drained two threes and a floating jumper in transition.
Guan Ziyu tallied six points late. He hit a pull-up jumper but committed three turnovers.
Kobe Brown chipped in seven points. He grabbed three offensive boards and scored on a tip-in.
Oladipo ended with 24 points and five assists for Guangzhou. Frazier added 11 points and five dimes.
Yancheng finished with 12 points on 4-of-5 from three. Chen Guohao tallied 13 points off the bench.
Bradley Beal sat out for the Clippers on coach’s decision. Bogdan Bogdanovic played two minutes without scoring.
LA shot 62.7% from the field and 48.8% from deep. Guangzhou hit 37.8% overall with 21 turnovers.
