Los Angeles Clippers vs Sacramento Kings

The Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings are set to face off on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. Tipoff is scheduled for 10:00 PM ET (7:00 PM Pacific). This matchup comes as part of the final stretch of preseason games, serving as an important tune-up before the regular season begins. Both teams are expected to use this game to finalize their rotations, test lineups, and assess new signings and fitness levels ahead of the 2025–26 NBA campaign.

Sacramento enters this contest dealing with several injury concerns. Forward Keegan Murray is out after undergoing surgery for a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb and will be re-evaluated in about a month. Domantas Sabonis is also a question mark after leaving a recent preseason game early with a right hamstring injury. His potential absence could significantly affect the Kings’ rebounding and playmaking from the post. Malik Monk has also been under observation after missing practice sessions due to illness. In their absence, Drew Eubanks and Maxime Raynaud are likely to get more frontcourt minutes.

On the Clippers’ side, the main storyline revolves around Bradley Beal’s recovery from knee surgery. The coaching staff is taking a cautious approach, preferring to ease him back gradually, and there’s a chance he may not feature in this game. Otherwise, Los Angeles comes in with a relatively healthy roster, giving coach Tyronn Lue the opportunity to experiment with rotations and defensive combinations. With Beal out, the focus shifts to how Paul George and Kawhi Leonard share scoring responsibilities and how young players perform off the bench.

From a tactical standpoint, Tyronn Lue is expected to emphasize perimeter defense and fast transitions, key areas that can exploit Sacramento’s weakened frontcourt. The Clippers may also continue refining their switching schemes and small-ball formations. On the other side, interim coach Doug Christie will likely rely heavily on backcourt production, using De’Aaron Fox and newly added scorers to carry the offensive load. With Sabonis possibly out, Sacramento Kings may test more motion-based sets and zone defenses, hoping to make up for their lack of interior size through energy and ball movement.

Media previews have slightly favored the Clippers, citing their depth and health advantage. Sacramento’s local press has focused on the importance of bench players stepping up, while national outlets see the game as a chance for Los Angeles to show early-season chemistry. Studio analysts have highlighted the Kings’ injury struggles and questioned how their smaller lineups will handle the Clippers’ wings. The consensus among analysts is that the Clippers enter this matchup with more rhythm and defensive stability, while the Kings will need to rely on pace and hustle to stay competitive.