Clippers coach Tyronn Lue warns starters after 129-108 loss to Jazz: “If our first unit can’t defend better, subs will be made faster.”

After an eventful 2025 offseason, headlined by a handful of major acquisitions and one significant accusation, the LA Clippers went into the 2025-26 season with

But, there is one thing that the Clippers do not have an abundance of — youth. It just so happens that’s the one thing the 2025-26 Jazz roster has in spades, so the Jazz went into the regular season opener with a very simple gameplan: Run the wheels off the old guys, and that they did to the tune of a 129-108 victory.

Kawhi Leonard blames early turnovers and poor defense for the Clippers’ blowout, calling the 43-19 first quarter “unacceptable.”

Outscored by 24 points in the first quarter and down 31 at halftime, they never recover in a 129-108 road loss. Ivica Zubac has 19 points and seven rebounds to lead the Clippers, who host the Suns

The Jazz's energy and success was real on both ends of the floor, but especially defensively, Utah limited the Clippers to just over 30% from beyond the arc, generated double-digit steals, and looked vastly different on that end of the floor from how they finished last season.

The new-look Clippers appeared confused on the court at times in a disappointing debut for a team with lofty aspirations.