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‘The Wall’ of Clippers fans missed free throws by Kevin Durant and Devin Booker
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‘The Wall’ of Clippers fans missed free throws by Kevin Durant and Devin Booker

The Los Angeles Clippers couldn’t christen the new Intuit Dome with a win Wednesday night in the $2 billion-plus stadium’s regular-season debut as the team lost 116-113 in overtime to the Phoenix Suns. But the environment of the new arena, especially in “The Wall,” a seating area reserved for only the most passionate Clippers fans, certainly played a role in the game.

With Suns star Kevin Durant at the free-throw line and ten minutes left in the fourth quarter, Clippers fans in “The Wall,” swaying back and forth as if at a concert and turning up the volume, seemed to influence Durant , who is shooting nearly 90 percent from the charity stripe for his career, to the point where he missed both shots.

When asked about “The Wall” after the game, Durant wouldn’t go so far as to acknowledge its effectiveness, but the 17-year veteran admitted he wasn’t used to seeing it.

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

What exactly is “The Wall”?

According to the Intuit Dome’s website, it is a seating area where only Clippers fans are allowed to sit. It features several different seating options in the 51-row section, but the first 13 rows of “The Wall” are standing room only, where Clippers fans are encouraged to “stand, cheer and help gain home field advantage.” ” Fans seeking a spot in “The Wall” must go through a vetting process that includes following the Clippers’ Instagram account and showing proof that they have attended a Clippers game in the past three years, according to ESPN.

“The Wall” almost has the feel of a student section, and it certainly seemed to have an impact on the game. Suns star Devin Booker, who also missed a free throw in the face of “The Wall,” seemed to feel the same way while speaking to reporters in a video shared by Ben Golliver of The Washington Post.

“I missed a free throw, man. I was mad. I think K (Kevin Durant) missed two there too, so that could work. You spend two billion dollars and put up a wall.”

While “The Wall” may have won the battle, Durant, who hit a huge, fadeaway jumper late in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime, and then drained a pair of key free throws in overtime, won the war .

“You know they’re excited,” Durant said. “They were so close to a stop and then I stood up and shot it and made it. Then it was quiet in there. That’s one of the best feelings, especially late in a game.”