Clippers ride college basketball intensity and playoff energy

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- For the Clippers, "Where fandom lives" wasn’t just a cutesy public relations slogan — it was a declaration, a rallying cry for a fanbase that had the team’s back in their biggest moment. 

They say you never forget your first, and for Clippers fans, Thursday marked the franchise’s first home playoff game in its own arena. And after playing a factor in the outcome, the crowd left the Intuit Dome buzzing, fully confident their team could thrive in this setting.

Thursday’s 117-83 rout of the Denver Nuggets was a textbook example of what home-court advantage can provide — a team that, until this season, was a tenant but now controls arguably the best environment in the NBA.

“It was crackin’, it was loud, just how we expected it to be,” James Harden said after the game. “That’s one of the reasons why we jumped out to a huge lead, they got behind us and we just rode that wave.”

This win perfectly encapsulated owner Steve Ballmer’s vision for the team’s move to Inglewood — the $2 billion investment, the creation of the Wall and the birth of a true synergy between the team and its fanbase. All year was spent fostering a symbiotic relationship, building a dynamic where both feed off each other’s energy, movements and sounds, creating an atmosphere that’s as electric as it is unbreakable.

An undeniable atmosphere was forged, one that will make opposing teams dread the prospect of playing the Clippers on the road.

“It’s probably the loudest it's been all year, we expected that,” Harden added.

Heading into game three, as the series shifted from Denver to L.A., the Intuit Dome would become a central figure. In the days leading up to the game, much focus had shifted from whether the crowd could influence the game to just how authentically engaged that crowd truly was.

Nuggets interim head coach David Adelman’s remarks stirred the pot when he accused the Clippers organization of pumping in crowd noise to manufacture a home-court advantage. Fans quickly latched onto that part of his comments, turning his criticism into fuel for the fire and using it as bulletin board material for their own team.

In a bit of a mea culpa and a tip of the cap before the game, Adelman shared his admiration for what the Intuit Dome is bringing back to the NBA: “Love what they’re doing here…the NBA needs more of that, more creativity, the crowds.”

The dome offered a rare college basketball atmosphere, prioritizing fan involvement over luxury, mirroring the passionate energy found at places like Allen Fieldhouse in Kansas or Cameron Indoor Stadium in North Carolina, rather than the typical high-end NBA experience.

For much of the night, fans waved white rally towels emblazoned with “Wave ’Em!”—a nod to the team’s nautical theme and a direct call to action. 

Foldable paper noisemakers, slapped rhythmically against open palms, filled the arena with a buzz reminiscent of flapping wings of cicadas on a summer night. 

A few fans even wore horse-head hats in an attempt to rattle three-time MVP Nikola Jokić, who famously adores the horses he raises back home in Serbia—a playful reminder of the equine companions he might rather be with.

“What I remember growing up in the small arenas—how loud it was, that college environment—I missed that,” Adelman said.

For the playoffs, the intensity of the environment was elevated to another level. 

The lights, the sounds, the vibrations—it felt like an arcade come to life inside an arena. Arguably the best atmosphere in basketball, it brought the experience back to its roots: collective energy focused on one singular goal — willing the home team to win.

“Our fans came out—they showed up and showed out,” head coach Tyronn Lue said after the win. “Guys played better, played well.”

While the Clippers and their fans undoubtedly enjoyed hosting their first playoff game at their new home court, they’d much rather see this series end quickly as they look to take a two-game series lead on Saturday. 

With the afternoon start time, it’ll be interesting to see how engaged the crowd is—perhaps even more so, given that the game isn’t relegated to NBA TV—especially considering what a 3-1 lead heading back to Denver could mean for their chances of advancing.

“The series is far from over, but tonight was a good showing for us,” Lue said. “We’ve got to come out and validate this on Saturday.”