Anticipation lingered in the air Tuesday before the Los Angeles Lakers collected their rings on opening night, before losing to the Los Angeles Clippers, 116-109. A matchup that was once considered fait accompli failed to materialize in the playoffs, courtesy of the Denver Nuggets bouncing the Clippers early, but here, finally, they were, with new identities: the champion and the humbled up-and-comer.
Montrezl Harrell, who switched allegiances from the Lakers to the Clippers this offseason — loudly, I might add — craved the electricity the matchup promised.