The Phoenix Suns outlasted the L.A. Clippers in both team’s season opener 116-113 in overtime Wednesday night. Although L.A.’s first game in the Intuit Dome was a loss, Kevin Durant gave credit to The Wall for causing him to miss two free throws in the fourth quarter.
“Yeah, it was crazy,” Durant told reporters after the game about The Wall. “I was just staring at it the whole time. You’re not used to that.”
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The Clippers’ new arena costs over $2 billion, with The Wall being a new feature behind the basket adjacent to the visiting team’s bench. It consists of a near-vertical wall that has 51 consecutive rows of seats, including 13 rows of only the biggest Clippers fans who have to go through a vetting process to certify their fandom before purchasing their ticket. The result is a massive wall of loud and passionate spectators.
Nevertheless, Durant scored 14 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, including a jumpshot to tie the game at 103 and force overtime.
The Clippers as a team are in a tough spot due to Kawhi Leonard‘s injury woes and the lack of a clear path to playoff success. But there’s no doubt that they boast the league’s best arena.
James Parker is an NBA writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
