The NBA Cup meeting between the Clippers and Sacramento Kings raised awareness for both teams, even though this was an early season game.

Both teams had lost their first cup match and needed a win to remain relevant in the season tournament.

For the Clippers, the Cup game gave them another chance to improve on their sloppy basketball-care game and continue taking steps in the right direction.

And the game once again showed the Clippers just how powerful they are on defense, which they did by slowing down the high-scoring Kings during a 104-88 win Friday night at Intuit Dome.

The Clippers were 1-3 in Cup play last season, but by winning their fourth straight game they improved to 1-1 in NBA Cup group play.

“All games are meaningful to us,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Playing for the Cup and having the opportunity to go to Vegas to play for the big money is always intriguing as well. But we have to play the same way every night, whether it’s for the cup, whatever we do, because we’re short.”

The Kings are averaging 116.9 points per game, seventh in the NBA, and shooting 48.9% from the field, third best. De’Aaron Fox is averaging 28.8 points per game, sixth-best in the league.

From the start, the Clippers have put the clamps on Sacramento.

LA held Sacramento to 12 points and 19% shooting in the first quarter, 11.9% (one for nine) from three-point range. For the game, the Kings shot 38.6% from the field and 20% from three-point range.

Fox made his first shot on his sixth attempt. He finished the game with 29 points, but that wasn’t enough to overwhelm the Clippers.

They opened a 14-point lead at the end of the first quarter, which grew to 25 in the second quarter.

The Clippers helped their cause by taking care of the basketball, getting 22 points and nine assists from James Harden and a double-double of 10 points and 15 rebounds from Ivica Zubac.

They had 25 turnovers in their win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night. On the season, the Clippers are averaging 15.8 turnovers per game, fifth-most in the NBA.

So, Lue was asked, what do they say to him when he shows his group film of their miscues?

“My bad,” Lue said.

What do you say then?

“I say it’s a bad pass,” Lue said. “And then they say, ‘Facts!’ So I mean, they understand. They see it. We just have to keep showing them, keep talking about them, because our margin for error is so small. We just have to take care of the basketball.”

At least a lesson has been learned for this game.

The Clippers had zero turnover in the first quarter. They didn’t commit their first turnover until there were nine minutes, 22 seconds left in the second quarter, and that was on an offensive foul against center Mo Bamba.

By halftime, the Clippers had only turned the ball over three times and had just twelve in the game.

Etc.

Lue said Norman Powell, who missed his second straight game due to a strained left hamstring, will join the team for the four-game trip starting next week. “He’s making progress,” Lue said. “He’s improving, he’s getting better (and) he’s going on a journey.” When asked if Kawhi Leonard, who was absent due to right knee inflammation, would travel, Lue said, “No sir.” … Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is managing swelling in his left knee and will miss a second straight game against the Clippers on Sunday.