How the Paul George negotiations changed the direction of the Clippers - ESPN

JAMES HARDEN HAD the top down on his green 1990 Ford Mustang 5.0 convertible on the LA Clippers' opening night.

As he turned off Prairie Avenue and into Intuit Dome, Harden blasted Tupac's «To Live and Die in L.A.»

It seemed only fitting that was Harden's soundtrack for the beginning of the Clippers' 2024-25 season. Without the departed Paul George and Russell Westbrook, the Clippers will have to win with Harden's scoring and vital playmaking until Kawhi Leonard is able to return from inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee.

On this night, Harden did all he could, pouring in 29 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists. But he missed a potential winning driving floater in regulation along with a potential tying free throw late in overtime, and he had to log 40 minutes while racking up eight turnovers as the Clippers fell 116-113 to the Phoenix Suns.

Intuit Dome's first night had plenty of electricity, but the Clippers lacked the star power they had last season.

One of those stars will be in Intuit Dome for the first time Wednesday night as the Clippers host the Philadelphia 76ers (10 p.m. ET, ESPN). But George won't be there to help Harden deliver a win, instead playing his second game in a Sixers uniform after a bone bruise in his left knee sidelined him for the first five games.

That was never part of Clippers owner Steve Ballmer's vision when he put shovel to dirt and began building the NBA's newest state-of-the-art arena over three years ago with hopes of Leonard and George raising a championship banner. But that was before a stricter collective bargaining agreement severely hampered the ability to build for the future if high-spending teams repeatedly exceed the luxury tax and the more restrictive second apron.

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