Sports

Clippers open their new home with a tough loss to the Phoenix Suns

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4 weeks ago

October 24, 2024

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Clippers open their new home with a tough loss to the Phoenix Suns

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, center, gets the fans on their feet before Wednesday’s game against the Suns. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The show began with Steve Ballmer doing a frenetic dance with fans inside his $2-billion palace, the Clippers owner surrounded by the team’s most diehard devotees in a seating area known as “the Wall.” Then he took the microphone.

“Welcome home, Clippers Nation,” Ballmer bellowed.

Indeed, the Intuit Dome in Inglewood is the Clippers’ new home after spending 25 years at Staples Center/Crypto.com Arena, sharing it with the Lakers, the WNBA’s Sparks and the NHL’s Kings. However, the Clippers’ celebrated season opener Wednesday night came without their biggest star, Kawhi Leonard, who remains sidelined because of recurring inflammation in his right knee. They were also missing their second-best player of the last few years in Paul George, who bolted to the Philadelphia 76ers over the summer.

So, it was up to Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, the team’s last star standing in James Harden, and a defense they have boasted about all preseason to be what mattered most.

A view of the Intuit Dome before Wednesday's game. — A view of the Intuit Dome before Wednesday’s game. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The curtain came down on the Clippers’ opening night after they were unable to deliver in the clutch, dropping a 116-113 game in overtime to the Phoenix Suns before a roaring, capacity crowd.

“I’m so disappointed that we didn’t get the win,” Harden said. “You know what I mean? That’s like one of the most frustrating things that I can think about as far as tonight. Like just history in Inglewood. The Intuit Dome. The fans came out, they showed up and we got the short end of the stick. But I think they gave us a great, great energy tonight and I think the more they continue that, the better our results will be. So, we appreciate the fans. We got to do our part and they definitely did theirs tonight.”

Harden had 29 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, but he seemed to tire after playing 40 minutes and having to be the main offensive option.

He missed a runner that could have won the game for the Clippers in the fourth quarter.

He missed one of two free throws that could have tied the score with 4.8 seconds left in overtime.

He had eight turnovers, the last coming with the Clippers down three in overtime with time running out.

He finished 10 for 28 from the field and two for nine from three-point range.

“I got to play way better,” Harden said. “You know what I mean? I think it was just having that week off, getting adjusted to the pace of the game. All of the above. Shooting the ball well, something that I can control, taking better shots. … And then just turning the ball over. Not just getting a quality shot possession by possession. … My play has to be a lot better.”

Ivica Zubac added 21 points and nine rebounds but fouled out in overtime. Kevin Durant scored 25 to get Mike Budenholzer his first win as coach, including the tying basket with 21 seconds left in regulation.

Lue called it a “huge day for Clippers basketball.”

“I’m very happy for our fans, happy for our players, happy for the organization,” Lue said. “And you see the arena speaks for itself. There’s none better in the world.”

Asked for an update on Leonard, he said nothing had changed since last week when the Clippers said the All-Star forward was going to be out indefinitely but had been “progressing.”

“He’s feeling pretty good, getting better,” Lue said. “Just got to check all the boxes, but he is progressing.”

James Harden of the Clippers is introduced at the Intuit Dome before the game on Wednesday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Leonard was a force for the Clippers last season, playing in 68 games, the most over his five years with the team. He averaged a team-high 23.7 points and 6.1 rebounds. He shot 52.5% from the floor, 41.7% from three-point range.

That’s what the Clippers are missing.

“With Kawhi being out, you lose the top defender, you lose the scoring ability — 25, 26 points a night,” Lue said. “You lose a guy that demands a double team on most nights. So, we got to just figure out how to play fast, play free, getting into space but not getting over dribble — I mean dribble happy. So, we are going to miss a lot of his abilities on the floor, but we just got to make up for it collectively.”