Clippers give Warriors a quiet beating

SAN FRANCISCO — Spectators filled nearly every courtside seat Tuesday night in Chase Center, Golden State’s brand-new waterfront arena. They watched opposing players slice nearly unimpeded to the rim, and the young, brittle Warriors lose their league-high 26th home game of the season.

In some ways the night, a 131107 L.A. Clippers beat down, felt like any other here this season.

But around and above the action at court level, it was obvious this was anything but, as the reach of the novel coronavirus continued to leave its mark on the San Francisco Bay Area, a hotspot for COVID-19, and the NBA.

Thousands of black T-shirts draped over the arena’s seats as part of a giveaway sat unclaimed amid a sparse crowd. Locker rooms were open to only essential team employees, by decree of the NBA, for the first time. Golden State officials have begun leaving doors open inside their offices to keep players and coaches from touching handles.

“It’s brand new and it’s strange and I don’t know really what to think,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “Even in just everyday life, visiting with friends gathering and it’s awkward. You don’t shake hands, you are doing the Bash Brothers things. How are we supposed to act? It’s all very strange and awkward.”

Fans who opted to stay home, whether out of concern surrounding the virus or a lack of interest in seeing a mismatch between teams at opposite ends of the Western Conference standings, missed little.

Leading by 28 at halftime and 24 by the third quarter’s end, the Clippers (44-20) were never challenged despite missing third-leading scorer Lou Williams, who did not play because of a sore right calf.