James Harden, Tyronn Lue, Derrick Jones Jr react to first Clippers sport at Intuit Dome

INGLEWOOD, CA — After greater than six of debate, planning, and making ready, the Los Angeles Clippers lastly opened their new house in Inglewood, California. The Intuit Dome opened in August, however hosted its first basketball sport on Monday night time towards the Dallas Mavericks.

The Clippers defeated the Mavs, 110-96, within the Intuit Dome preseason opener. Kevin Porter Jr. main the way in which with 18 factors, 5 rebounds, six assists, and three steals in 19 minutes of play. Six Clippers gamers reached double-figure scoring, whereas Ivica Zubac (11 factors, 12 rebounds) and James Harden (10 factors, 12 assists) each recorded double-doubles.

Clippers lastly host a sport at Intuit Dome

From the second followers step onto the lot the place the Intuit Dome stands, there’s an instantaneous rush of exhilaration. It was a solely slightly over three years in the past, properly into the COVID-19 pandemic, that the Clippers formally broke floor on the brand new stadium.

It took a couple of minutes for followers to navigate by the halls of the Dome, however they shortly discovered their seats and tuned into the present. The NBA’s official boxscore states that 13,400 followers attended the preseason opener on Monday night time.

“I adore it,” Derrick Jones Jr. mentioned after scoring the primary ever basket on the area. “The sector is sweet as—. Sorry I used to be about to curse. The sector is actually wonderful. I positively like this. That is most likely top-of-the-line arenas that I’ve ever stepped foot in and the apply facility as properly, so I am glad I am right here with the ability to be there and taking part in the in Intuit Dome and be the primary group that is getting that flooring proper.”

James Harden, who’s going to be tasked with main this group in Kawhi Leonard’s absence, mentioned he had a good time regardless of it solely being a preseason sport.

“It is crackin’!” Harden smiled. “It is crackin’ in right here. Preseason sport however simply to see the display screen and the followers and the lights throughout the seats, it is gonna be a very good season for us. It is gonna be enjoyable to observe.”

The Intuit Dome has a special setup from different NBA arenas in that the baseline closest to the Clippers bench has a traditional bowl form whereas the one by the opposing group’s bench options, “The Wall.”

One may suppose that the depth notion may mess with gamers one half versus the opposite, however Harden says it is nothing that he considers bothersome.

“As soon as we get in there slightly bit extra, get slightly bit extra snug,” Harden defined. “However I am simply enthusiastic about the entire ambiance on this constructing. I feel town of L.A. is happy about it as properly.

“I feel that was only a quarter of what was occurring. I feel Steve [Ballmer] did not need to give y’all the entire rundown of what is going on down. He is holding again for y’all. He mentioned you gotta be there on the twenty third to witness it.”

The Clippers confirmed that whereas the Halo Board was useful and displaying various stats on Monday night time, the group has a full unveil of the board saved for the season opener towards the Phoenix Suns on October twenty third.

“It is stunning,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd added. “To have the ability to apply right here yesterday and have shootaround right here, they did an unimaginable job. I feel the Clippers followers needs to be pleased. I feel once you have a look at the fan expertise, it is gonna be like no different, so it is thrilling to be the primary visiting group right here tonight to expertise that.”

The Wall was on full show with followers standing for many of the night time and within the ears of Mavs gamers. With the seats in shut proximity to the Mavs bench, it would certainly be a protracted season for opposing groups from that perspective.

“It is an ideal feeling to have a spot to name house,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue added. “I feel our guys are very enthusiastic about it, our complete group could be very enthusiastic about it. Tonight, our followers acquired an opportunity to see part of it.

“I beloved it. I believed the group was nice and the wall was actually nice. They did a goos job simply being loud and being disruptive. That is what we want. it felt good to truly be at house. To offer the group a very good sport, we all the time play higher, however I believed we performed arduous, we competed, we scrapped, and that is what the followers need to see.”

The Clippers will play another preseason sport on Thursday, October seventeenth towards the Sacramento Kings. Kawhi Leonard in addition to James Harden won’t play in that one, and never many different starters are anticipated to both.

That would be the closing sport earlier than the Clippers formally open up the Intuit Dome on Wednesday, October twenty third when James Harden and the Clippers host Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and the Phoenix Suns.