The Clippers' new beginning is marred by old problems in their debut in the Intuit Dome

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – There's no black cat running around the Los Angeles Clippers franchise, no unnecessary fumigation needed to rebrand their sprawling new facility that will surely be the envy of owners who don't have the deep pockets of Steve Ballmer .

It wasn't even funny or fitting that James Harden missed the back end of two free throws that would have tied the game in overtime in the Intuit Dome's regular-season debut on Wednesday night, when the Clippers lost 116-113 to the Phoenix Suns.

It was just Game 1 of a new season for the Clippers, the first in a while where championship expectations weren't on everyone's mind, a season in which the margin of error is razor-thin and a little stressful.

But that's probably where the Clippers operate at their best, moving between two eras, the purgatory that is the result of choice and circumstance – a space from which they can extricate themselves with a few deft moves.

When Ballmer's new stable opened in Inglewood – the Clippers' boldest and grandest attempt to gain a foothold in Los Angeles, still not emerging from the Lakers' giant shadow – it seemed like last year would have been their best chance such a trip.

Finally, Russell Westbrook and Paul George were on the roster, and Kawhi Leonard was on pace to play in his most games since his time with the Spurs.

Four prominent names, four kids from the LA area who could carry the city's flag and connect the neighborhood with the new building. A building where kids shot on a field outside before going through the actual turnstiles, a building that, for all its bells and whistles, was still confusing to navigate – which is usually the case when a new arena opens .

There's the giant, floor-length Jumbotron that's a visual marvel, and all the technology designed to make it easier for fans to get back to their seats and get back into the action as quickly as possible.

But only Harden remains as the top player for now, as Westbrook wasn't ready for a reduced role and George wasn't ready for a salary that was below the maximum salary. As for Leonard, it's all speculation, as he's out indefinitely after another offseason knee surgery and a confusing stint with USA Basketball that resulted in him being sent home from his Olympic victory last summer.

Harden's numbers weren't exactly old-fashioned, but he was able to put up 29 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in nearly 40 minutes and score 24 points in the second half despite a 2-for-11 start.

He helped turn the Clippers from a sluggish start in which they trailed by 14 points to an energetic comeback that brought the fans to life. Can he get back to being the nightly machine he was in Houston versus the distributor and occasional boss of a scorer he has been in his last three (!) appearances, all since January 2021?

Seems unlikely, but he's the best option.

“We competed, we played hard. We all feel it was a game we should have won,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “I can’t question how hard we played. How good we were. Overall, I thought our guys did a good job competing.”

As for Harden's missed free throw and later mishandling a pass as the Clippers tried to tie the game with a three-pointer in overtime, Lue said his team was “in perfect position” to win, but didn't want to complain too much in a single moment.

The building had its moments, particularly when Ballmer walked to an area known as “The Wall,” where fans stand on their feet throughout the game, listening to chants and playful taunts at the opposing team while the conglomeration behind the Basket is placed near the visitor site.

“The wall is crazy. This is our sixth man,” Lue said. “They are in the game. I think they made (Kevin Durant) miss two free throws in a row. We're going to need that. It was nice to see.”

Ballmer jumped to the microphone to greet fans at the Intuit Dome before the game ended and sat in vivid misery when Harden's free throw went awry – not long after Kevin Durant hit a classic jump shot over two Clippers, including Harden had who came by to help.

“Yeah, K made some, some tough shots, especially the shot in the fourth quarter when I tried to contest him, and he still doesn't know how he made it,” Harden said in half admiration, half exasperation.

“History, you know, Inglewood, Intuit Dome, the fans came and came out and showed up,” Harden said. “And we were just, you know, we got the short end of the stick. But I think they gave us great energy tonight.”

Lue repeatedly referred to the efforts that represent a fundamental change in philosophy at this organization. Not to add insult to injury, this is now a tenacious team that will have to rely on wild cards like Kai Jones to move forward, or Derrick Jones Jr. or Terance Mann to take a next step to keep the Clippers afloat hold.

However, that element begins with Harden, who for the first time in a long time is no longer surrounded by preseason or postseason controversy. While that doesn't deserve applause, it's worth noting that he's in this position and given the uncertainty surrounding the roster, you can count on him to do even more.

“We need him to be special until Kawhi gets back,” Lue said.

There was no trace of irony in Lue's words, because no one knows when Leonard will return. People will say he's doing a great job in rehab and hasn't had any setbacks – a positive sign to say the least.

But despite Leonard's collective eye roll and his myriad injuries, it has helped the Clippers find a way in the meantime.

For the Clippers, this is what they have to be now. Their ambitious move to snag Leonard and Paul George in the summer of 2019 – George was an MVP finalist in Oklahoma City and Leonard led the Toronto Raptors to an improbable championship – was more than worthwhile.

The ending was ultimately unsatisfying, despite only having one conference finals to show for it and having the Oklahoma City Thunder to thank for all those picks and pick swaps. But it was an opportunity the Clippers had to seize because it shaped an identity, or at least the expectation of one.

They've been a relevant franchise for well over a decade now, after years of being the joke of the league. They go back to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin and have a long history on the national stage, even when the Lakers have struggled in the Wild. But aside from the Lob City-era cuteness, not much stuck.

But the league needed to see how this iteration treated its players, like Leonard and George and later Harden. The fact that this brand new facility exists shows the organization's commitment to standing on its own, even though the Lakers are arguably the biggest brand name in sports, certainly the NBA.

Even if Harden is no longer just a 48-minute supernova and Leonard remains an unknown, the Clippers can be a destination for the next generation of free agents that the Clippers are nothing more than the clown franchise, Donald Sterling's franchise , regard.

They now have their own home, their own unique wall, their own place in this NBA ecosystem. It seems like the Clippers will be the Clippers forever, and in the end that might be the case.

But they have at least prepared themselves through intention and investment to continue taking risks, even if they sit idle in the meantime.