NBA’s Lakers, Clippers return to court amid LA wildfire devastation
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San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes going for the net against Los Angeles Lakers guard Max Christie.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LOS ANGELES – The Lakers and Clippers returned to National Basketball Association (NBA) action on Jan 13, 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 kilometres south.
“Sports are a lot of things and sports can certainly provide an escape and a distraction,” said Lakers coach J.J. Redick.
He 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.”
More than 90,000 people remained displaced on Jan 13,
At least 24 people have been killed and thousands left without homes, and authorities warned that winds forecast to intensify again on Jan 14 could lead to “extreme fire behaviour and life-threatening conditions”.
Two Lakers games and one Clippers game had been postponed before the Jan 13 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 organisation, 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 had 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,” he 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 Jan 15.
The Lakers dropped their third straight game, after road losses to Houston and Dallas.
They led 62-53 at half-time but ran out of steam in the second half, when the Spurs outscored them 73-40.
Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell scored 23 points apiece for San Antonio.
Chris Paul, a former Clipper whose family still lives in Los Angeles and had to evacuate their home because of the fire, scored 13 points and handed out 10 assists for the Spurs, who also missed a game because of the fires when their Jan 11 contest against the Lakers was postponed.
Anthony Davis scored 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Lakers and LeBron James added 18 points and eight assists.
“One thing we found out during the course of Covid is sports kind of brings joy back to people, even if it’s temporary,” Davis said. “We were eager to play basketball again in front of our fans – it sucks that we weren’t able to get the win.”
Redick said the team were doomed by defensive lapses.
And while the coach hoped to always “give grace” to players and staff – especially as they grapple with the wildfire fallout – he was aware that the season will march on.
“It doesn’t mean you don’t critique, and it doesn’t mean you don’t tell the truth,” he said. “And we’ve had for three games now real slippage defensively.” AFP
