What happened: LA Clippers players and staff united behind banned owner Steve Ballmer during their regular-season opener against the Sacramento Kings, per James Williams of USA Today Sports. The locker room used Ballmer's absence as a rallying point entering the new campaign after staging a fan jersey exchange outside Intuit Dome prior to tipoff.

Why it matters: The matchup against Sacramento marked the Clippers' regular-season debut after Ballmer accepted NBA punishment for cap circumvention and dropped his legal challenge. League sanctions against Ballmer and the front office reshaped the organization's leadership structure heading into the season.

What to watch: The Clippers turn to their scheduled matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers while operating under the league's front-office restrictions.