Rui Hachimura drops 21 in Clippers debut

Claxton was traded to the Bulls on June 22, but his debut will have to wait at least two weeks. It’s unknown if Claxton’s injury will force him to miss time in the regular season, but if it does, Jalen Smith would be the next man up at center, making him a late-round dart throw worthy of consideration in deeper leagues.

Hachimura moved from crypto.com Arena to Intuit Dome in the offseason after inking a two-year deal with the Clippers, and he figures to be an integral part of the team’s offensive gameplan. Hachimura’s current ADP suggests he can be had in the ninth or 10th rounds of fantasy drafts, making him a strong value.

The rookie led all players in minutes and FGA (15). He shot just 3-of-15 from the floor and 1-of-11 from beyond the arc, but he came in clutch when it counted. Wagler scored nine points in the final frame, including a go-ahead step-back 19-footer with 14 seconds left to give the Clippers a 102-101 lead which they would not relinquish. Wagler should be heavily involved in LA’s rotation from Day 1, making him an interesting, late-round selection in 12-team fantasy basketball leagues.

Markkanen didn’t need much court time to get his buckets, and he led all scorers in the 2026-27 preseason opener. Production has never been a concern for Markkanen, as “The Finnisher” is a strong scorer, rebounder and shooter. Availability is the biggest concern for fantasy managers, but given his first-round upside, Markkanen is shaping up to be a draft-day value in Rounds 3-5.

Hayes joined the Jazz in the offseason after Utah traded Walker Kessler to the Lakers, and Hayes will serve as a backup option at center as he’s done throughout his career. He’s got appeal in deep leagues as a blocks specialist, but he’s unlikely to see big minutes as Utah has a deep frontcourt rotation.

Peterson also missed both of his three-point attempts. Though it was a poor effort offensively, Peterson was solid on the defensive end with six boards and a steal, and he chipped in two dimes to round out his final stat line. Better days are ahead for the No. 2 pick, and fantasy managers don’t need to read much into this performance.

The veteran point guard will open the season with Denver after the Nuggets signed him in March. He’ll operate as a depth option behind Jamal Murray, and Jones will have streaming appeal if Murray misses time.

The rookie out of Arkansas tied Julian Strawther for team lead in minutes, and he had a serviceable night, going 3-of-4 from the field and making an impact on defense. Denver doesn’t boast a deep bench, especially in the frontcourt, so Brazile has a real chance to earn meaningful rotation minutes in Year 1.

Jokić got some light run in the preseason opener, but he already has one of the season’s best highlights. The three-time MVP was stuck in the corner with Lauri Markkanen on him and made a ridiculous cross-court, behind-the-back pass to Cam Johnson, who splashed a triple from the opposite corner. Joker is an easy Top-2 pick in fantasy hoops for his ability to stuff the stat sheet, and Sunday’s highlight-reel assist is just a small taste of how the elite facilitator can get teammates involved.

While the Clippers won their preseason opener on Sunday, beating the Warriors 104-101, Strus’ injury dampened the mood. He played five minutes before leaving the game with a non-contact right foot injury. The plan is to evaluate Strus’ foot when the team returns to Los Angeles, but he could miss an extended period of time. With Brandon Ingram (heel/Achilles) already out, the Clippers don’t need to take another hit to their wing depth.