The Los Angeles Rams reached the second spherical of the NFL playoffs on Monday because the Lakers and Clippers returned to NBA motion within the fire-ravaged metropolis, all paying tribute to first responders and providing consolation to the followers.
“Sports activities is loads of issues and sports activities can definitely present an escape and a distraction,” mentioned Lakers coach JJ Redick, who misplaced the house he shared together with his spouse and two sons when the Palisades hearth broke out final week.
“I hope tonight’s sport can convey slightly pleasure, too,” Redick mentioned.
Greater than 90,000 folks had been nonetheless displaced Monday, seven days after a number of wind-driven fires broke out.
No less than 24 folks have been killed and hundreds left homeless, and authorities have warned that winds anticipated to accentuate once more on Tuesday might result in “excessive hearth conduct and life-threatening circumstances.”
Two Lakers video games and one Clippers sport had been postponed earlier than Monday’s contest started, and each groups devoted the night to the group and first responders.
The Lakers fell to the San Antonio Spurs 126-102 at their Crypto.com Area in downtown Los Angeles, whereas the Clippers beat the Miami Warmth 109-98 on the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, a number of miles away south.
In the meantime, the Rams topped the Minnesota Vikings 27-9 in an NFL wild card spherical playoff sport moved to Glendale, Ariz., due to the fires.
The Arizona Cardinals stadium has been remodeled with the colours and logos of the Rams. The workforce chartered a convoy of buses to convey followers from Los Angeles, with folks displaying up at SoFi Stadium earlier than daybreak to start the six-hour journey.
Followers waved flags and indicators thanking firefighters and Rachel Platten carried out her anthem “Combat Tune” throughout a pre-match ceremony.
The music celebrating resilience matches with the “LA Sturdy” message despatched Monday by town’s beloved groups.
Earlier within the day, a dozen Los Angeles skilled golf equipment pledged $8 million to battle the wildfires and outlined plans for 3 occasions aimed toward distributing provides to folks affected by the fires nonetheless ravaging the second largest metropolis in america.
– Be united –
Along with that concrete help, quarterback Matthew Stafford mentioned the Rams additionally hope to supply some emotional consolation.
“We knew what we had been taking part in for,” he mentioned. “It is a robust time to be again (in Los Angeles). We’re simply comfortable to come back out and play like that tonight to provide (the followers) one thing to be comfortable about.”
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue mentioned he hoped his workforce’s sport might “convey a smile to some faces,” whereas acknowledging that “as soon as these video games are over, you at all times come again to actual life “.
Veteran James Harden, a Los Angeles native, scored 21 of his 26 factors within the second half to gas a Clippers comeback and after the sport he mirrored on the theme of “LA Sturdy.”
“We’re going by means of robust instances proper now,” Harden mentioned. “One thing we have by no means seen earlier than. So it’s totally, very highly effective for us to be united… as one, we will come collectively and get by means of this.”
Spurs veteran Chris Paul, a former Clippers participant whose household needed to evacuate their Los Angeles dwelling, mentioned the uncertainty attributable to the fires was additionally robust on visiting groups.
“However I feel us and the Lakers had been in all probability simply excited to have an opportunity to play hoops,” mentioned Paul, who was a teammate of Reddick when each had been with the Clippers.
He and Victor Wembanyama gave Redick’s younger sons jerseys after the sport.
Lakers star Anthony Davis was solely sorry that the Lakers could not get the victory.
“One factor we have found throughout Covid is that sports activities brings pleasure again to folks, even when it is non permanent,” Davis mentioned. “We had been wanting ahead to taking part in basketball in entrance of our followers once more. It is a disgrace we could not get the victory.”
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