After Donald Sterling ban, Clippers fans unite behind players

1/19

Longtime Clippers fan Abe Dilanian, center, holds up a sign in protest of team owner Donald Sterling outside Staples Center prior to the start of Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Golden State Warriors. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

2/19

Clippers teammates Jamal Crawford, left, and Chris Paul, center, speak with Rev. Jesse Jackson before the start of Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

3/19

Clippers fans hold up a sign imploring team owner Donald Sterling to sell the franchise prior to the start of Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

4/19

Clippers players stand on the court during the signing of the national anthem prior to the start of Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

5/19

Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, top right, does a quick, celebratory dance after sinking a basket during the first half of Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

6/19

Clippers power forward Blake Griffin slams the ball after an offensive play against the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

7/19

Clippers power forward Blake Griffin, center, drives between Golden State Warriors teammates David Lee, left, and Stephen Curry during the first half of Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

8/19

A Clippers fan cheers during Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

9/19

Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, right, dunks over Golden State Warriors center David Lee during the first half of Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

10/19

Clippers small forward Matt Barnes, left, reacts after being called for a foul on Golden State Warriors center David Lee, middle, during the first half of Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

11/19

Golden State Warriors power forward Marreese Speights, left, blocks a shot by Clippers power forward Blake Griffin during the first quarter of Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center on Tuesday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

12/19

Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, left, collides with Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green while battling for a rebound during the first half of Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

13/19

Clippers guard Jamal Crawford, left, falls to the court after losing the ball to Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson during Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

14/19

Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, left, blocks a shot by Golden State Warriors small forward Andre Iguodala during Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

15/19

Clippers power forward Blake Griffin, left, tangles with Golden State Warriors forward Marreese Speights while driving to the basket during the first half of Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

16/19

Clippers small forward Hedo Turkoglu, bottom, falls to the floor while defending Golden State Warriors center David Lee during Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

17/19

Clippers small forward Hedo Turkoglu winces in pain after suffering a back injury during the Clippers’ 113-103 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

18/19

Clippers guard Jamal Crawford, left, and Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson chase after a loose ball during the Clippers’ 113-103 win in Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

19/19

Clippers guard Jamal Crawford gives high-fives to fans sitting courtside during the team’s 113-103 win over the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

By Los Angeles Times staff

April 30, 2014 6:15 AM PT

Hours after NBA Commissioner Alan Silver banned Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life and slapped him with a $2.5-million fine Tuesday, a wave of relief and determination appeared to sweep over fans and players at Staples Center.

Clippers fans outside and inside the venue appeared jubilant for Game 5 in the playoff series, many of them bringing signs and wearing gear designed to show their solidarity with the team.

Inside, there was a standing ovation for pregame warmups and for each player when he entered the game. There was even a small standing ovation when the giant video board showed two fans wearing black shirts with Sterling’s face crossed out.

Photos: Banned for life | Clippers resume playoff run without owner Donald Sterling

Unburdened by Sterling, the Clippers pulled off a 113-103 victory over the Warriors to open a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Game 6 is Thursday night in Oakland.

“It seemed like a burden lifted off everyone and we could just go back to playing basketball,” Chris Paul said.

At a highly anticipated news conference earlier in the day, Silver announced that he had banned Sterling for life from any association with the Clippers organization or the NBA and said he can’t attend any games or practices. Sterling can’t be present at any Clippers facilities and he can’t participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team.

Silver also fined Sterling $2.5 million and will urge the Board of Governors to use its authority to force the billionaire to sell the team.

Sterling’s downfall came when NBA officials determined that it was his voice heard on an audio recording telling a friend he was upset she posted a picture on Instagram of herself next to Lakers legend Magic Johnson.

The recording set off widespread condemnation, with players contemplating boycotts and civil rights advocates threatening protests.

But after Silver’s ruling was handed down, the Staples Center crowd decided to turn what had been planned as an anti-racism protest into a victory rally, echoing the sentiments of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who had gathered with NBA players and other officials on the steps of City Hall mid-Tuesday to praise the NBA sanctions against Sterling.

“We may be a two-team town, but today, we are behind one team,” he said.

Game-day attire for fans consisted mostly of red Clippers gear, some turned inside out to mimic another look the Clippers sported in protest Sunday, and black shirts, which some suggested on social media as a sign of solidarity with the team.

Even other NBA teams joined in -- 11 others had the same slogan on their websites as the Clippers: “We Are One” surrounded in black.

On the way to the game, Kathy Kusner, 74, and George Myers, 73, wore matching black shirts that had the Clippers logo with “Clip Him” written across the front.

The back of the shirts had a “-1” under Sterling’s name. The couple praised Silver for taking the unprecedented step of banning Sterling.

“There is a chance that this can change more than just with the Clippers,” Kusner said. “This could be a nice big step in how we think about race and equality.”

After Donald Sterling ban, Clippers fans unite behind players

More to Read

More From the Los Angeles Times