LOS ANGELES — The 2024-25 season ushers in a new chapter for the Los Angeles Clippers, who faced off against the Phoenix Suns in their inaugural home game at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday.
“It’s a significant day for Clippers basketball, our supporters, and our ownership,” stated Clippers coach Tyronn Lue during the season’s launch in the new venue.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer made a substantial investment of $2 billion in the construction of the arena. Prior to the game’s commencement, he engaged with fans outside the venue as they enthusiastically chanted “Let’s go Clippers.”
Ballmer again connected with fans just minutes before the game, dancing and cheering before taking the microphone to declare, “Welcome home Clipper Nation!”
Key Highlights from the Clippers’ Season Opener:
The Wall and Fan Impact
A notable feature of Ballmer’s new venue is “The Wall,” a designated section behind the visiting team’s basket reserved exclusively for Clippers fans. This area is designed to create a distraction for the opposing team.
“I love the wall they have,” remarked Suns forward Kevin Durant following the game. “It was incredible. … I was just staring at it the whole time. You don’t see that often.”
Final Score: Suns 116, Clippers 113 (OT)
Clippers guard James Harden was expected to take charge for the team, which played without star forward Kawhi Leonard.
Harden’s role was limited last year amid a roster filled with stars like Paul George and Russell Westbrook. With both players now gone, Harden is stepping into a new position for his second season with the Clippers.
He finished the game shooting 10 of 28, racking up 12 rebounds and eight assists in 40 minutes. He had the opportunity to tie the game but missed one of two free throw attempts that could have sent it into a second overtime.
Harden acknowledged the need for improvement in shot selection and minimizing turnovers while remaining optimistic about the team’s effort. “A lot of positives came from that game,” he noted. “I think we played really hard, and that’s going to be our hallmark every game.”
Clippers guard Norm Powell opened the scoring and led at halftime with 11 points. The Clippers ended the first half on a 10-2 run, but the Suns took a 47-39 lead into the locker room.
In the second half, Harden surged, netting 16 of his 29 points in the third quarter.
Center Ivica Zubac contributed six points early in the third, helping the Clippers equalize at 51 with 7:33 remaining in the period. The Suns enjoyed a maximum lead of 14 points, while the Clippers never exceeded a 10-point lead.
Clippers’ Aspirations
Harden pointed out that he has never missed the playoffs during his career and expects to continue that trend this year.
ESPN’s NBA Power Index forecasts the Clippers to finish with a 41-41 record and gives them a 40% chance of making the playoffs.
Harden is cognizant of the external expectations surrounding the team but believes they will adhere to their own standards. “Our entire team has a lot to prove,” he said. “There have been times when teams I played for were labeled as not good enough, yet we proved them wrong. This is another chance to do that, and I’m excited about what we have in this locker room.”
Kawhi Leonard’s Injury Outlook
Leonard was absent for the game against the Suns and may be sidelined for several weeks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. He had a knee procedure in the off-season to manage swelling.
“We need to establish an identity of playing hard and competing at a high level,” Harden remarked. “There are aspects we must improve, but even when Kawhi returns, that’s still our identity.”
Last season, Leonard averaged 23.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.