Felicia Enriquez, aka Mynt J, is the host of the podcast BlackLove and Basketball – Compton Edition. She is a Clippers fan, an NBA credentialed creator representing thePeachBasket. In this article, Welcome to the Intuit Dome, Cleveland: Clippers Outlast #1 Seed in the East, she recaps the exciting win against the number one team in the Eastern Conference – Cleveland Cavaliers!
They walked in as the No. 1 seed in the East. They walked out with a reality check.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, the league’s most dangerous offense, thought they could overpower the Clippers. What they didn’t realize was that this team thrives on doubt.
Clippers Outlast #1 Cavs At Intuit Dome, doubt turns into dominance.
With a 132-119 victory, the Clippers didn’t just win—they wore Cleveland down. They let the Cavs punch themselves out, good old rope-a-dope style. Cleveland launched threes early, believing their firepower would overwhelm. But the Clippers? They absorbed the hits, stayed patient, and when the moment was right, they flipped the script.
The fourth quarter wasn’t a fight. It was a lesson.
And Intuit Dome made sure Cleveland felt every single decibel of it.
Clippers Fans: The Most Loyal and Dedicated in the NBA
A near sellout—17,927 fans packed Intuit Dome (capacity: 18,000). But Clippers fans aren’t just numbers on a stat sheet.
They’re the heartbeat of this team.
No other fan base in the league is more humble, more loyal, or more dedicated than Clippers fans. This isn’t a franchise that’s had championships handed to them like you know who. This is a fan base that built something from the ground up.
And when The Wall gets rocking, it’s not just noise—it’s a force.
Steve Ballmer: The Ultimate Clippers Fan
No one embodies the passion, energy, and dedication of Clippers fans more than Steve Ballmer himself. Ballmer isn’t just an owner—he’s the biggest superfan in the NBA. He doesn’t sit quietly in a luxury suite—he’s on his feet, cheering, fist-pumping, and living every single play just like the fans in The Wall.
He built Intuit Dome not just as a stadium, but as a fortress—a place where Clippers fans could have a true home.
Watching his team take down the No. 1 seed in the East, watching The Wall disrupt the game, watching Zubac dominate inside—Ballmer has every reason to be proud.
Because just like the fans, he’s been here for the fight. And now? The Clippers are proving that fight is paying off.
The Wall Effect: The Sixth Man at Intuit Dome
Some arenas have crowds. Intuit Dome has The Wall.
Let’s consider it the sixth man on the floor—a real, measurable advantage.
Wall Stats:
- Opponents shoot just 75.6% from the free-throw line (260-344) against The Wall—numbers that would rank 27th in the NBA if it were a team.
- Visiting teams avoid it—only 10 times in 33 home games has a team dared to shoot against The Wall in the second half.
- Overall, teams are shooting just 75.6% FT at Intuit Dome—the fourth-lowest mark for road teams in any NBA arena.
Cleveland tried to hold their own. But in the second half, their shots stopped falling, their rhythm disappeared, and their top-ranked offense looked like anything but.
They weren’t just playing against the Clippers.
They were playing against The Wall.
The House That Zubac Protects
At this point, we can say it with confidence: Intuit Dome belongs to Ivica Zubac.
On his birthday, no less, Zubac didn’t just defend his home—he made history inside it.
- 28 points, 20 rebounds
- 70% shooting from the field
- First player in NBA history to record a 20/20 game on 70% shooting on his birthday
This wasn’t just a performance—it was a reminder.
There was a time when Zubac wasn’t sure of his place. He was reliable, but confidence? That was still coming. Now? This is his house. And he’s making sure everyone knows it.
James Harden plays a huge role in that. He doesn’t just create offense, he creates confidence. Harden brings the best out of Zu, and in return, Zu brings the best out of himself.
A few years ago, this version of Zubac didn’t exist. But with trust, with time, and with the right teammates, he’s becoming the big man the Clippers always needed.
This Team Doesn’t Need a “One“ They Have Everyone
The NBA loves labeling teams. Who’s the “one” guy? Who’s the MVP?
That’s not how the Clippers operate.
They are grounded, solid, and unshakable because they don’t rely on a single savior. They trust each other.
- Kawhi Leonard: The silent assassin. 33 points, leading the charge with 25% of the team’s total points.
- James Harden: The orchestrator. Led the team in assists (32.1% of the team’s total assists).
- Bogdan Bogdanović: The sniper. 8-for-8 from the field, 4-for-4 from three—a perfect performance.
- The Bench: The unsung heroes. Kept the game close, gave the starters the push they needed.
Every night, it’s someone different. That’s the Clippers’ strength.
Teams try to compare them to past contenders, to teams that need a clear alpha. But that’s not the Clippers’ DNA.
They don’t need a “one.” They have everyone.
Cleveland’s Weaknesses Get Exposed
Before they even arrived in L.A., Cleveland took an L at home to Orlando 108-103—and both games exposed the same weaknesses:
- Three-Point Dependency
- Vs. Clippers: 34.1% from three (14/41), while allowing L.A. to hit 45.7% from deep.
- They live and die by the three—and against the Clippers, they died by it.
- Rebounding Woes
- Vs. Clippers: Outrebounded 49-29.
- With Zubac owning the glass and Cleveland’s bigs struggling to control the paint, it was a losing battle inside.
- Free Throw Issues
- Vs. Clippers: Shot 65.4% from the line, while L.A. buried 85.7%.
- In close games, that’s the difference between winning and losing.
Coaching Concerns?
The Clippers team didn’t just beat the No. 1 seed in the East but broke them down piece by piece. That’s what good teams do.
But one lingering question remains—how much of this success falls on Brian Shaw?
With Tyronn Lue out, Shaw has stepped up, and the Clippers have been winning. Is he simply keeping the seat warm, or is he implementing adjustments that are making a real impact?
Would the Clippers have won this game if Lue were coaching instead?
It’s a question worth asking, but one thing is for sure—this team is figuring it out.
What’s Next? The 6th Seed is in Reach
This isn’t the end of the story—it’s just another chapter.
- March 21: vs. Memphis (home)
- March 23: vs. Oklahoma City (home)
Both winnable games. But it’s not about the opponent.
It’s about the mindset. One game at a time.
A few games in between, then on March 30, the Clippers head to Cleveland.
A rematch. A chance to prove that this wasn’t just a home-court victory—it was a shift in power.
And when they step onto that court, Cleveland will know exactly what’s coming.
This team is different. This team is built for this.
