What happened: Darius Garland spoke to Clippers fans ahead of Thursday's game, pointing to the roster's offseason work over the summer. He told the crowd the group is ready to turn up the intensity for the new campaign.

Why it matters: The pregame remarks follow a ramp-up period in which Garland discussed leading the Clippers into the 2026-27 season and built on-court chemistry with Derrick Jones Jr. During the lead-up to the opener, he also headlined the franchise's annual Feed the Community event at Intuit Dome on Oct. 17.

What to watch: Garland and the Clippers tip off Thursday night's game following pregame introductions.