The Los Angeles Clippers put on a show in their encore in Hawaii.
Then, they left the door open for more NBA training camps and preseason exhibitions in the islands.
Los Angeles defeated the Sydney Kings 110-91 in the 2018 Clippers Hawaii Classic, a competitive affair that only got out of reach for the Australian National Basketball League team in the final few minutes.
The Stan Sheriff Center was less full than last year’s two near-capacity Clippers matchups against the Toronto Raptors — attendance was listed as 6,911 — but the building often felt just as loud.
“They’ve been great all week. It’s just a great place for us,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “I love making this our home base for training camp. I hope we can continue to do that. The guys love coming here. The coach loves coming here” — Rivers raised his hand — “and the fans enjoy it. So it’s a good fit for all of us.”
The Clippers arrived here last week for their second straight preseason searching for a new identity post-Lob City era. They depart for the mainland, and the remainder of their five-game preseason schedule, with some confidence that they can compete with their nucleus of veterans.
That group helped them close out the Kings. Seven players scored in double figures for the Clippers, led by Tobias Harris (20 points) and Danilo Gallinari (19). The rangy forwards each hit a 3-pointer to help put the game away with under three minutes left.
There was no All-Star like Blake Griffin or DeAndre Jordan to be seen this time, but the Clippers played unselfishly, assisting on 31 of their 41 made field goals.
Behind point guard Patrick Beverley, the Clippers came out with regular-season caliber intensity from the opening tip. Beverley appreciated the Sheriff Center enthusiasm in his second straight preseason here.
“They always lit, man. It’s always good to come here and play in front of them, display our skills,” he said. “After the national anthem, we coming out there, they screaming our names. The knowledge they have for basketball is the ultimate respect we have for them.”
Beverley, who has touted the new team identity as “Clamp City,” backed up the defensive moniker with three steals, while rookie guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander swiped it from the Kings four times.
In all, the Clippers had 15 steals among 25 Kings turnovers.
The Australian team played up and up with the NBA franchise most of the way with some effective ball movement and gutsy play.
“They play with great pace and move the ball and space, honestly that would be a great team to play a couple more times as they will get you ready for the Golden State Warriors of the world with the way they play,” Rivers said.
That was epitomized in 5-foot-9 guard Jerome Randle, a fearless former NBL MVP who scored 25 points on 9-for-19 shooting.
Beverley said Randle is “hands down” an NBA talent. “Put him up there with Kyrie (Irving) when it comes to handling the ball and moves like that.”
The Kings’ most prominent player, center Andrew Bogut, took some knee-to-knee contact in the second quarter but returned after halftime, finishing with eight points and eight rebounds. The Kings are counting on Bogut for a return to prominence in the eight-team NBL.
After giving up the first nine points of the game to the Clippers, Sydney drew within a point on a couple of occasions in the second quarter, and was within 59-54 at halftime.
Beverley picked Kevin Lisch’s pocket in the third quarter for a layup and a 68-57 lead.
Randle’s layup followed by a 3 brought Sydney back within 76-68. Daniel Kickert made it a seven-point game on a baseline fadeaway.
Bogut’s left-handed push shot made it 82-76 and he dunked to make it a four-point game with 8:07 left.
The end-to-end exclamation point came courtesy of Harris, who swooped in for a layup and rejected Lisch at the other end 12 seconds apart under the four-minute mark.
Rivers was comfortable enough to insert his third unit for the final 1:25.
“I take great respect and solace about the feedback and talking to Doc after the game,” Kings coach Andrew Gaze said. “It’s nice, it’s a reward and hopefully positive reinforcement to the guys and the coaches that hopefully we are on the right track.”
