After being interrupted last week, sport resumed Monday in Los Angeles with two NBA games, between solidarity and vigilance as fires continue to threaten the city.
In front of the Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles Lakers fans and their gold and purple jerseys flocked Monday afternoon before the duel against the San Antonio Spurs, led by French phenomenon Victor Wembanyama.
The NBA championship returns to the City of Angels with the Lakers’ match and that of the Clippers against Miami in their brand new Intuit Dome stadium in Inglewood.
The two neighborhoods, far from the wild hills of the megacity, were not affected by the evacuation orders and by the fires which have killed at least 24 people and destroyed more than 12,000 buildings in Los Angeles since Tuesday.
Lakers coach JJ Redick saw his home disappear in flames in Pacific Palisades.
“A group functions best when individuals draw strength from each other. The way the players and the staff have united around me, around the city, there is a real strength there,” greeted Redick before the match.
“Sport is certainly an escape, a fun, I hope that sport will bring joy to all of us this evening,” added the coachwho specified that several of his players had to evacuate their homes last week.
“The Lakers have a very strong connection to the city of Los Angeles,” greeted the technician.
The NBA had postponed two Clippers games and one Lakers games last week, so as not to disperse the resources of law enforcement and firefighters.
The Los Angeles Rams’ NFL playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings, played on Monday, was moved to Arizona.
Twelve professional teams in the city, including the Lakers and the Clippers, announced Monday a donation of $8 million to several organizations mobilized in the face of the consequences of the fires.
