LOS ANGELES — The beginning of the 2024-25 season marks a brand new period for the Los Angeles Clippers, who performed the Phoenix Suns of their dwelling opener on the Intuit Dome on Wednesday.

“It is an enormous day for Clippers basketball, our followers and possession,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue mentioned about opening the season within the new venue. 

Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer spent $2 billion on the sector. Earlier than it opened its doorways to the general public on Wednesday, he hung out exterior the sector amongst the followers as a “Let’s go Clippers” chant began to interrupt out.

Ballmer was across the followers once more within the minutes main as much as recreation time, dancing and cheering earlier than grabbing a microphone to say “Welcome dwelling Clipper Nation!”

Listed here are some takeaways from the Clippers’ season opener:

The Wall, Clippers followers make their presence felt

Ballmer’s new venue options “The Wall,” a supporters part situated behind the opposing workforce’s basket and strictly for Clippers followers. The part’s intent is to assist create a distraction for the opposing workforce.

“I really like the wall they’ve,” Suns ahead Kevin Durant mentioned after the sport. “It was insane. … It was loopy, I used to be simply observing it the entire time. You’re not used to that.”

Last: Suns 116, Clippers 113 (OT)

Clippers guard James Harden was requested to paved the way for the Clippers, who had been taking part in with out star ahead Kawhi Leonard.

Harden was in a restricted function final yr amongst a star-studded lineup that additionally featured Paul George and Russell Westbrook. Following the departure of each gamers, Harden strikes into a unique function in his second season with Los Angeles.

Harden shot 10 of 28 from the sector and picked up 12 rebounds and eight assists in 40 minutes. The veteran had an opportunity to additional prolong the sport to a second additional time interval however missed the second of two free throw makes an attempt that may’ve tied the sport.

Harden believes there’s nonetheless room to play higher by taking higher pictures and limiting his turnovers however remained inspired by what he noticed from his squad.

“Loads of positives popping out of that recreation,” Harden mentioned. “I believe we performed extraordinarily arduous and that’s going to be our calling each single recreation.”

Clippers guard Norm Powell scored the primary factors of the sport earlier than occurring to steer all scorers at halftime with 11 factors. The Clippers completed the primary half on a 10-2 scoring run within the ultimate 2:32 of the second quarter but it surely was the Suns who took a 47-39 lead into the locker room.

Harden led a second-half cost, scoring 16 of his 29 factors within the third quarter.

Middle Ivica Zubac scored six factors early within the third quarter to assist shut the hole for the Clippers, who matched the Suns at 51 with 7:33 left within the interval. The Suns’ largest lead of the sport was 14 whereas the Clippers didn’t maintain a lead bigger than 10 factors.

Clippers set personal expectations

Harden talked about that he has not missed the playoffs at any level throughout his profession and doesn’t anticipate this yr to be any totally different.

The Clippers are projected to complete with a 41-41 document and a 40% likelihood to make the playoffs, based on ESPN’s NBA Energy Index.

Harden is conscious of the expectations that NBA analysts and pundits have for his workforce however believes the Clippers will keep true to their inside expectations.

“Our complete workforce has so much to show,” Harden mentioned. “There’ve been many occasions the place I’ve been on groups informed they weren’t ok however we made folks imagine in us. That is one other alternative for that and I believe now we have a variety of guys on this locker room who’ve that mindset and I’m enthusiastic about what now we have.”

Kawhi Leonard’s damage standing 

Leonard was unavailable for Wednesday’s recreation in opposition to the Suns and could possibly be out for a number of weeks, based on ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Leonard underwent a knee process throughout the offseason to deal with swelling.

“We now have to have an identification of taking part in arduous and competing at a excessive degree,” Harden mentioned. “There are some issues now we have to right however even when Kawhi comes again that’s nonetheless our identification.”

Leonard averaged 23.7 factors and 6.1 rebounds per recreation final season.

(This story was up to date to alter a photograph.)