Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, left, gives teammate Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin a pat afterr he scored late in the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings in an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015. The Clippers won 111-104. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Blake Griffin scored 33 points and Paul Pierce endeared himself to his new teammates by putting Los Angeles ahead for good with a late jumper in the Clippers’ 111-104 season-opening victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.
Chris Paul had 18 points and 11 assists, J.J. Redick scored 15 and the Clippers blew a 15-point lead before surviving for the win.
DeMarcus Cousins had 32 points and 13 rebounds in the Kings’ final season opener at Sleep Train Arena before moving to their new downtown home next season.
The Clippers led 89-76 when DeAndre Jordan was called for a questionable fifth foul. Cousins took advantage with a couple of scores inside, and then back-to-back 3-pointers from Marco Belinelli and Darren Collison cut Los Angeles’ lead to 92-88.
Omri Casspi followed with another 3 after Jordan returned, and the Kings took their first lead of the night when Rudy Gay scored inside with just under 7 minutes left.
The game stayed tight from there. Pierce, playing his first game with L.A., gave the Clippers the lead for good with a fall-away jumper that made it 102-100 with 2:20 left. Gay missed a shot that could have tied the game, and Cousins threw the ball away for his eighth turnover with 1:33 remaining.
Paul then threw a lob to Jordan and made a jumper as the Clippers held on.
The Kings were looking for improved defense this season after a full training camp under coach George Karl, who took over last February. But the Clippers started fast by making seven of their first eight shots to take a 15-4 lead.
The Kings had no answer for Griffin on the defensive end and committed 12 first-half turnovers, allowing the Kings to stay in control.
Redick converted a four-point play in the closing seconds of the half, making a shot from the corner while being fouled by Ben McLemore to give the Clippers a 56-46 lead at the break.