LOS ANGELES — The Lakers and the Clippers each went again to work Monday evening in Los Angeles’ first two NBA video games since catastrophic wildfires killed at the very least 24 folks and destroyed vital sections of their hometown.

The Lakers hosted the San Antonio Spurs of their downtown enviornment, whereas the Clippers hosted the Miami Warmth of their brand-new Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., about 16 kilometres south of downtown.

Lakers coach JJ Redick and his household misplaced their dwelling within the Pacific Palisades within the fires Tuesday. He was grateful to get again on the court docket along with his gamers for his or her first sport in six days, believing that sports activities can present a small uplift to an exhausted metropolis.

“I believe a gaggle capabilities finest whenever you draw energy from one another, and the best way my gamers, my employees, the group has supported, rallied round me, rallied across the metropolis … there’s actual energy in that,” Redick mentioned. “That is the receiving of energy. Then it is our job to go give energy and provides hope and provides pleasure. Sports activities are a whole lot of issues, and sports activities can actually present an escape and a distraction. Hopefully sports activities tonight can present some pleasure as properly.”

The NBA postponed two dwelling video games for the Lakers and one dwelling sport for the Clippers final week whereas the fires nonetheless raged. The NFL additionally moved the Los Angeles Rams’ wild-card playoff sport in opposition to Minnesota to suburban Phoenix on Monday evening.

Redick mentioned a few of his gamers had been underneath an evacuation warning in latest days, and one could not make it to work on time due to exercise round his dwelling. Redick and his household misplaced virtually every part they owned of their rented dwelling.

“I have been overwhelmed with the quantity of assist and love and generosity that individuals have proven to me and my household, and actually all households which were affected by this,” Redick mentioned.

The Lakers staged a donation drive exterior their enviornment earlier than they hosted the Spurs, accepting meals and packaged private objects. The Lakers and Clippers have been amongst 12 Los Angeles-area professional sports activities groups that introduced Monday they are going to contribute greater than $8 million mixed for native reduction efforts.

The Lakers displayed the message “Thanks first responders” on their scoreboard earlier than the sport and noticed a second of silence earlier than level guard Gabe Vincent spoke to the group.

“On behalf my teammates, this group, our hearts exit to all those that have been affected by this,” Vincent mentioned. “We might undoubtedly like to present a shoutout to the primary responders who’re placing their lives on the road proper now to guard our group. I believe it is essential right now that we come collectively as a metropolis, as a group, as a household, to assist assist these which might be in want proper now.”

The Clippers lined each seat at Intuit Dome with giveaway white towels that includes the phrases “LA Sturdy” and a blue picture of the state of California.

“We’re so grateful for the primary responders, however we ache for the victims,” public deal with announcer Eric Smith mentioned earlier than the sport. “The smoke will raise and they’ll return and rebuild, as a result of that is LA. In the present day all of us stand collectively (as) one crew, one Los Angeles.”

The 2 groups’ opponents additionally went by means of a number of days of uncertainty because of the wildfires.

The Spurs have been speculated to play back-to-back video games in opposition to the Lakers beginning Saturday. The Warmth, who will face the Lakers on Wednesday, did not know if they might be allowed to go to Los Angeles final Saturday till after their sport in Portland.

“We perceive our accountability,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned. “We wish to do no matter we are able to on this career. We’re coming with nice empathy and charm, and if our position is to offer leisure and inspiration, then that’s our position. However whereas we’re doing that, we’re eager about all of the devastation and all individuals are coping with. It’s simply been horrible.”