Wagler settles a close preseason opener with a late jumper
The LA Clippers opened their NBA preseason with a 104–101 victory over the Golden State Warriors at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu on Monday morning, October 5 Philippine time. Rui Hachimura scored 21 points, while rookie Keaton Wagler delivered the late jumper that put Los Angeles ahead for good.
The game was played on October 4 in Hawaii. Wagler finished with 15 points off the bench, matching Darius Garland’s scoring total for the Clippers. Hachimura provided the early offensive lift before the contest came down to a final exchange between the teams’ reserve units.
Golden State led 24–23 after the first quarter, but Los Angeles outscored the Warriors 32–19 in the second to take a 55–43 halftime advantage. The Warriors responded with a 30-point third quarter and entered the fourth trailing only 77–73. Their comeback eventually gave them a chance to win despite the double-digit deficit earlier in the game.
Graham Ike’s putback moved Golden State in front 101–100 with 27 seconds remaining. Wagler answered with a step-back jumper with 12.8 seconds left, according to NBC Sports Bay Area’s game report. Cam Christie later made two free throws, and Ike’s final long-range attempt failed to force overtime.
Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Al Horford finished their work in the first half. That left Golden State’s younger players and reserves to carry the comeback and handle the closing possessions. The tight finish offered both coaching staffs an early look at their depth, though the result came with preseason rotations rather than regular-season workloads.
The Clippers’ second-quarter scoring surge created their cushion, but they still needed Wagler’s late shot to protect it. Golden State recovered enough ground to take the lead in the final minute before its last two possessions ended without points.
Golden State next hosts the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center on October 7 at 10 a.m. Philippine time.