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Three major Los Angeles sports teams paid tribute to first responders and offered comfort to fans as they returned to action in the fire-ravaged city.
The Los Angeles Rams advanced to the second round of the NFL playoffs, while the Lakers and Clippers played their NBA games on Monday.
“Sports are many 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 broke out last week.
“Hopefully the sport tonight can bring some joy as well,” Reddick said.
More than 90,000 people remain displaced as of Monday, seven days after numerous wind flames erupted.
At least 24 people were killed and thousands left homeless, and authorities warned that winds expected to pick up again Tuesday could lead to “extreme fire behavior and life-threatening conditions.”
Two Lakers games and one Clippers game were postponed before Monday's contests went ahead, and both teams dedicated the night to the community and first responders.
The Lakers fell to the San Antonio Spurs 126-102 at their Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, while the Clippers beat the Miami Heat 109-98 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood a few miles south.
Meanwhile, the Rams dominated the Minnesota Vikings 27-9 in an NFL wild-card playoff game moved to Glendale, Arizona, because of the fires.
The home stadium of the Arizona Cardinals was transformed with the colors and logo of the Rams. The team chartered a convoy of buses to bring fans from Los Angeles, with people showing up at SoFi Stadium before dawn to begin the six-hour journey.
Fans waved flags and signs thanking firefighters, and Rachel Platten performed her national anthem “Fight Song” in a pregame ceremony.
The song praising resilience fits the “LA Strong” message sent Monday by the city's favorite teams.
Earlier in the day, a dozen professional clubs in Los Angeles pledged $8 million for wildfire relief and outlined plans for three events to distribute supplies to those affected by the fires still ravaging the second-largest city in the United States.
In addition to that particular support, quarterback Matthew Stafford said the Rams hope to provide a little emotional lift as well.
“We knew what we were playing for,” he said. “It's a tough time to come back (to Los Angeles). We're just happy that we came out and played like that tonight to give (the fans) something to be happy about.”
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said he hopes his team's performance “brings a little smile to some faces,” though he admitted that “after these games are over, it's still back to real life.”
Veteran Los Angeles native James Harden scored 21 of his 26 points in the second half to fuel the Clippers' comeback and went on the “LA Strong” theme after the game.
“We're going through tough times right now,” Harden said. “Something we haven't seen before. So it's very, very strong for us to stand together … as one we can stand together and get through this.”
Spurs veteran Chris Paul, a former Clipper player whose family had to evacuate their home in Los Angeles, said the uncertainty caused by the fires is also hard on visiting teams.
“But I think we, along with the Lakers probably, were just excited to get a chance to play,” said Paul, who was Redick's teammate when both were with the Clippers.
He and Victor Wembanyama presented jerseys to Reddick's young sons after the game.
Lakers star Anthony Davis' only regret was that the Lakers couldn't come away with a win.
“One thing we've found during the COVID (pandemic) is that sports bring 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 didn't get the win.”
