Clippers' new arena confounds KD with 'The Wall,' but LA comes up short.

 INGLEWOOD, Calif. — With just 10 minutes remaining in the LA Clippers' inaugural regular-season game at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday, Kevin Durant found himself at the free-throw line facing a challenge he had never encountered in his 17-year career.

This time, it was The Wall. The Wall prevailed as the normally reliable 88.4% free-throw shooter missed both attempts, sending the sellout crowd at Intuit Dome into a frenzy.

Durant, who scored 12 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, could have added two more had it not been for the distraction of The Wall, a steep section of fans located behind the basket closest to the visitors' bench.

However, he later responded by hitting a 15-foot fadeaway shot that forced overtime. Ultimately, the Suns edged out the Clippers 116-113, spoiling the historic night for the home team in front of 18,300 fans.

"Yeah, it was crazy," Durant said, reflecting on The Wall. "I was just staring at it the whole time. You're not used to that."

The Wall consists of 51 uninterrupted rows of seats, with the first 13 rows occupied by dedicated Clippers fans, who are carefully vetted by the franchise. These fans are expected to stand and chant throughout the game, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a college student section.

This was the vision of Clippers owner Steve Ballmer when he oversaw the designs for the $2 billion arena, aiming for a home-court advantage like no other in the NBA. The Wall, along with the high-tech 4K Halo board—an enormous double-sided display that is nearly an acre in size—are standout features that set the Intuit Dome apart from other NBA arenas.

"It's all about the experience, the feel of the bowl and the scoreboard," Ballmer told ESPN last week regarding his excitement for the Intuit Dome. "I love our standing-room-only section in The Wall. It worked great during the preseason. We'll see how it holds up during games, but it definitely gives off a college gym vibe, creating a student-section feel."

Ballmer kicked off the night by joining fans in The Wall, initiating what the Clippers hope will become a tradition with a dance and chant.

"Welcome home, Clipper Nation!" he shouted into a microphone.

With star player Kawhi Leonard sidelined indefinitely while he continues to recover from knee issues, James Harden stepped up, scoring 29 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing out eight assists, despite committing eight turnovers. He gave the Clippers a two-point lead with 41.5 seconds left by sinking two free throws, but Durant tied the game with a clutch shot over Harden and Amir Coffey with just 21.2 seconds remaining in regulation.

Harden had a chance to clinch the game, but his floater missed the mark. In overtime, he had another opportunity to tie, but missed the second of two free throws with just 4.8 seconds left. Jusuf Nurkic then sealed the game with two free throws.

With 1.6 seconds remaining, the Clippers failed to get the ball to Harden as Grayson Allen intercepted the inbound pass, solidifying the Suns' first victory of the season.

After the game, both Durant and Devin Booker praised The Wall.

"I missed a free throw," Booker, who fouled out late in the fourth quarter, admitted. "I was pissed. I think K missed two down there too. So that might just work."

When asked if The Wall made an impact on him, Booker replied, "Hell yeah."

"You spend $2 billion, you put up a wall," he added.

Durant noted that when he missed those two free throws in the fourth quarter, the energy in the Intuit Dome surged, as fans receive free Chick-fil-A sandwiches whenever an opponent misses two consecutive free throws.

"I think I experienced something like that before," Durant said of The Wall. "Oklahoma State has a similar setup, though not as grand. But seeing something go straight up, I always thought that was cool. The noise is different, and it’s going to be a tough environment for anyone who comes in here."

Harden expressed disappointment that the Clippers couldn't give their fans a memorable opening night.

"I'm really disappointed we didn’t get the win," he said. "It's frustrating given the history in Inglewood and the new Intuit Dome. The fans showed up, and we came up short."

"But they provided great energy tonight. If they keep that up, our results will improve. We appreciate the fans; we have to do our part, and they certainly did theirs tonight."