Los Angeles -- An enthusiastic, packed house at the Staples Center, complete with the requisite, so-called "beautiful people" occupying the pricey courtside seats.

If this sounds like the scene from a Laker game, guess again.

The Clippers may still play second fiddle to the two-time defending NBA champions in this town, but they clearly have developed a following. A crowd of 19,445, the biggest opening-night crowd in franchise history, turned out last night to see the Clippers take on the Warriors. Fan interest has been drummed up by the Clippers' billing as a young team on the rise -- six players are age 22 or younger. Even at this stage of their development, a playoff berth is a realistic possibility.