Photo Credit: Getty Images
The Lakers and Clippers returned to NBA action on Monday with a strong nod to the first responders battling the Los Angeles wildfires and hoping to bring "some joy" to their ravaged city.
The Lakers fell to the San Antonio Spurs 126-102 at their Crypto.com Arena in downtown LA while the Clippers beat the Miami Heat 109-98 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood several miles south. "Sports are a lot of things and sports can certainly provide an escape and a distraction," said Lakers coach JJ Redick, who lost the home he shared with his wife and two sons when the Palisades fire erupted last week. "Hopefully sports tonight can provide some joy as well," Redick said.
More than 90,000 people remained displaced Monday, seven days after multiple wind-driven blazes erupted. At least 24 people have been killed and thousands left without homes, and authorities warned that winds forecast to intensify again on Tuesday could lead to "extreme fire behavior and life-threatening conditions".
Two Lakers games and one Clippers game had been postponed before Monday's contests went ahead, and both teams dedicated the night to the community and first responders. "I hope it can bring some smiles to some faces," Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. "It's been tough the last four or five days. We're still supportive in every way we can be as an organization, as a staff, doing whatever we can. "Once these games are over it's still back to real life."
The Clippers, trailing by five at half-time, used a big third quarter to turn things around. Norman Powell scored 29 points, Ivica Zubac scored 21 points with 20 rebounds and James Harden scored 21 of his 26 points in the second half to fuel the Clippers' comeback. Harden added five rebounds and 11 assists and after the game, the Los Angeles native embraced the Clippers'' "LA Strong" theme. "We're going through some tough times right now," Harden said. "Something we've never seen before. So it's very, very powerful for us to stand together... as one we can stand together and get through it." Tyler Herro scored 32 points with 11 rebounds and seven assists to lead the Heat, who are scheduled to face the Lakers in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
