Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr., left, shoots as Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis defends during the first half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray, right shoots as Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan, right, shoots as Clippers forward Nicolas Batum defends during the first half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis, left, shoots as Clippers center Mo Bamba defends during the first half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, and Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis reach for a rebound during the first half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles, left, grapples for a rebound with Clippers center Mo Bamba, center, and guard James Harden during the first half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis reacts after getting hit while shooting without drawing a foul call from the referees during the first half of their NBA Cup game against the Clippers on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, center, shoots as Clippers guard Kevin Porter Jr., left, and forward Nicolas Batum defend during the first half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis, left, shoots as Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends during the first half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Kevin Porter Jr., center, passes the ball while under pressure from Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis, left, and guard Jordan McLaughlin during the first half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis, right, shoots as Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends during the first half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan, right, shoots as Clippers guard James Harden, center, defends and forward Domantas Sabonis watches during the first half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Amir Coffey, right, shoots as Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis defends during the second half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis, right, shoots as Clippers center Mo Bamba defends during the second half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers forward Nicolas Batum, left, shoots as Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis defends during the second half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers forward Nicolas Batum, right, shoots as Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray defends during the second half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis, second from right, shoots as Clippers center Mo Bamba, left, and guard Amir Coffey defend during the second half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis reacts after letting a ball go out of bounds for a turnover during the second half of an NBA Cup game against the Clippers on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Kevin Porter Jr., right, shoots as Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis defends during the second half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles, right, grabs a rebound away from Clippers guard Kris Dunn, center, during the second half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Kevin Porter Jr., top, dunks as Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Huerter defends during the second half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, left, and Clippers guard Terance Mann battle for a loose ball during the second half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis, left, grabs a rebound away from Clippers center Mo Bamba during the second half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac, right, rejects a shot by Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan during the second half of their NBA Cup game, on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr., left, shoots as Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis defends during the first half of an NBA Cup game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
INGLEWOOD — The floor was dark blue and the uniforms bright red. A picture of the in-season tournament trophy dominated center court as Intuit Dome took on a festive feel for the Clippers’ first home game in NBA Cup play.
Yet, as far as Clippers coach Tyronn Lue was concerned, the game was just another test of their defense, their ability to hold onto the ball and an opportunity to add to their win total. In other words, just another game.
But it wasn’t just another game. The Clippers’ 104-88 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night was another chance to add to their winning streak and their first in tournament play. And they did it with solid defense, balanced scoring and attention to detail.
“We didn’t make shots tonight, but our defense held us up and that’s who we got to be every night,” Lue said. “We got to be the hardest-playing team.”
James Harden set the pace with 22 points on 5-of-18 shooting, to go with six rebounds and nine assists as the Clippers (10-7) made it seven wins in a row in their new arena. Derrick Jones Jr. had 17 points and Ivica Zubac finished with 10 points and 15 rebounds.
All 10 players who entered the game scored at least two baskets.
“We have to play the same way every night whether it’s the Cup or whatever we’re doing,” Lue said before the game. “We just got to be ready to go tonight.
“But playing for the Cup, a chance to go to Vegas to play for the big money, it is always intriguing as well.”
The Clippers and Kings both lost their first game in the in-season tournament. All teams play four group play games and another loss would edge either team closer to elimination, making these games worth something extra. The six group winners and a wild card team in each conference advance to the quarterfinals.
The semifinals and final will be played next month in Las Vegas.
The Clippers faced the Kings and their two superstars without Norman Powell (left hamstring) and All-Star Kawhi Leonard, who continues to rehab his right knee and will not join the team on its four-game East Coast trip.
Not only were the Clippers short-handed, but they also had to contain the Kings’ two-pronged offensive threat of guard DeMar DeRozan and De’Aaron Fox.
DeRozan had missed the previous three games because of back soreness, but he was back in the lineup in time for the finale of the four-game homestand.
Fox, who scored 109 points over two days earlier this week, presents challenges on all fronts, Lue said. He is quick, he can get to the free-throw line, get inside for layups, shoot floaters from midrange and now has added a 3-point shot to his repertoire.
“He’s a tough player … just his speed is so dynamic,” Lue said.
The Clippers’ sixth-rated defense neutralized Fox early, limiting him to four first-half points. But he managed to get his game on track in the second half, finishing with 29 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
“We knew they were missing shots and in the second half, we knew they were going to make shots. They’re a good team,” Harden said. “For us, it was just staying the course, locking in defensively and offensively again.”
DeRozan, who came in averaging 22.2 points, had 11 of his 16 in the opening half. He also had six rebounds. Center Domantas Sabonis added 24 points and 15 rebounds but it wasn’t enough.
Fox scored eight points in a 12-5 run to start the second half, causing Lue to call a timeout. The Kings closed to within 58-51 with 6:15 left in the third quarter, but that was the closest they got.
The Clippers’ 51-29 halftime lead was the fewest number of points they have allowed in any half since they gave up 27 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 5, 2021.
“(It’s important to) just having a strong mindset,” Lue said. “Sacramento’s a great team. They got a great offense. I mean they can score with the best of ’em and so they’re going to make a run at some point. You’re not going to hold a team like that to 29 points in the second half. That’s just not going to happen.”
“But the way we give ’em their points, we turn the basketball over, not getting back in transition, but give them credit, they made some 3’s, they made some shots. Fox got going a little bit. DeRozan got going a little bit even though we fouled a little bit too much. But that’s to be expected.”
While the Clippers’ 3-point shooting was off (10 for 42), their turnovers were down. They had just 12 (three in the first half) against the league’s sixth-best offense.
The Clippers came in averaging 15.8 turnovers after giving up 25 in their victory against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday and Lue said he focused on their mistakes during a recent film session.
What do they say? Lue was asked.
My bad.
What do you say?
That’s a bad pass.
How do they respond?
They say ‘facts.’
“They understand it, they see it,” Lue said. “We gotta keep showing them, keep talking about it. Our margin of error is so slim we got to take care of the basketball.”
