INGLEWOOD, Calif. – With 10 minutes left in the LA Clippers’ regular-season game at the Intuit Dome, Kevin Durant found himself at the free-throw line facing something he hasn’t experienced in his 17 seasons as a pro.

The Phoenix Suns star took on The Wall. And The Wall won, at least in this particular moment, when the career-high 88.4 percent free throw shooter missed two free throws, sending the sold-out crowd at Intuit Dome into a frenzy.

Durant scored 12 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, but could have had two more if not for The Wall, a steep section of fans behind the basket closest to the visitors’ bench.

However, Durant would get the Clippers and their fans back by drilling a 15-foot fadeaway late in regulation to force overtime before the Suns spoiled the Clippers’ historic night with a 116-113 victory in front of 18,300 fans .

“Yeah, it was crazy,” Durant said of The Wall. ‘I was just staring at it the whole time. You’re not used to that.’

It has 51 uninterrupted rows of seats, but the first 13 rows are filled with diehard Clippers fans whose fandom is pre-vetted by the franchise. The fans in the first 13 rows are expected to stand and sing throughout the match, creating an atmosphere similar to that of a student section.

This was the vision of Clippers owner Steve Ballmer when discussing the designs for the $2 billion arena. He wanted a home field advantage like no other in the NBA and it almost helped the Clippers get their first win ever in the state-of-the-art building.

The Wall and the high-tech 4K Halo board – the largest double-sided halo display ever in an arena environment spanning nearly half an acre – are perhaps the two biggest features that make Intuit Dome unlike any other arena in the world . N.B.A.

“It’s about the experience, the feel of the bowl and the scoreboard,” Ballmer told ESPN last week about what he likes about Intuit Dome. “I actually love our standing-room-only section (at The Wall). It worked great in the preseason. Let’s see how it works in the game, but it kind of gave you a college gym feel… that that’s what a student section will feel like, because that’s what students do.”

Ballmer opened the night by standing among the fans at The Wall and beginning a ritual that the Clippers hope will include a dance and song.

“Welcome home, Clipper Nation!” Ballmer shouted as loudly as he could into a microphone.

With star Kawhi Leonard out indefinitely as he continues to strengthen his right knee, James Harden scored 29 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, but also had eight turnovers. He gave the Clippers a two-point lead with 41.5 seconds left with two free throws, but Durant tied the game with his big shot over Harden and Amir Coffey with 21.2 seconds left in regulation.

Harden had a chance to win the match, but his driving floater fell off the rim. In overtime, Harden had a chance to tie the game, but he missed the second of two free throws with 4.8 seconds left. Jusuf Nurkic then sank two free throws.

With 1.6 seconds left, the Clippers couldn’t make the pass to Harden when Grayson Allen stole the ball, sealing the Suns’ first win of the season.

Afterward, Durant and Devin Booker spoke enthusiastically about the Intuit Dome’s Wall.

“I missed a free throw,” said Booker, who was fouled late in the fourth quarter. ‘I was angry. I think K missed two down there too. So that could work.”

When asked if The Wall left an impression on him, Booker replied, “It certainly did.”

“You spend $2 billion and put up a wall,” Booker said.

When Durant missed those two foul shots in the fourth quarter, Intuit Dome came to life because every time an opponent misses two consecutive free throws, fans get free Chick-fil-A sandwiches.

“I think I’ve experienced that (once before),” Durant said of The Wall. “Oklahoma State has some kind of arena, obviously not that big. But to see something going straight up, and I always thought that was cool. The sound is a little different. It’s going to be a tough road environment for anyone who comes in here.”

Harden just wishes the Clippers could give their fans something to truly remember from opening night.

“I’m so disappointed we didn’t get the win,” Harden said. “That’s one of the most frustrating things. Just like history in Inglewood. The Intuit Dome. The fans showed up and we got the short end of the stick.

“But I think they gave us a great, great energy tonight and I think the more they keep going, the better our results will be. So we appreciate the fans. We have to do our part and they certainly did theirs tonight done.”