The fires raging around Los Angeles are not yet ancient history, but basketball is gradually regaining its rights. While the Lakers faced the Spurs at the same time, the Clippers also found their way back to the courts, with in mind the dramatic situation which is still playing out just a few kilometers from the Intuit Dome. For the Clippers, the slogan was “LA Strong” (Strength in Los Angeles), plastered on the players’ training t-shirts, but also in the stands of the room.
France, who had long remained in the shadow of the Lakers, put support for the victims of the fires before any sporting rivalry in a message sent by its speaker before kick-off. “ The smoke will clear, and people will come back and rebuild, because this is Los Angeles, and today we all stand together, one team, one Los Angeles. »
“Putting smiles on faces”
Ironically, the Clippers hosted the Heat in a match marked in particular by the return of Kawhi Leonard, who had been excused against Denver after joining his evacuated relatives. Kawhi Leonard has a house in Pacific Palisades, where the main fire started and ravaged nearly 100 square kilometers of land.
« I was just trying to bring my family together, make sure everyone was safe and sound » he explained after the meeting.
His individual performance, 6 points and 5 rebounds in 21 minutes, will remain very anecdotal. Only one number counted, the 11 point lead at the final buzzer for the locals in front of stands which were quite logically sparser than usual (13,119 spectators out of some 18,000 possible).
« It was hard to understand what everyone is going through » mentioned Tyronn Lue at a press conference. “ Seeing the whole city and all the residents rallying together to do what they can to help friends, family, neighbors… It’s a difficult time. So we’re just trying to encourage, try to cheer people up by playing basketball, see if we can put smiles on faces, get people to come together, watch the game and do something different. Try to clear your mind. »
« Show must go on »
Visibly affected, Tyronn Lue and his team did the job against a Miami team weakened by the absences of Jimmy Butler, still suspended, and Bam Adebayo, injured in the back.
In the locker room too, it was difficult to shake off what was happening elsewhere in the city. “ People lose everything, and you have to stay focused on basketball » explained Norman Powell, his team’s top scorer with 29 points. “ It’s difficult to concentrate as if nothing had happened. » The main thing was then to give everything, so that the spectators would forget, at least 48 minutes into the game, the disaster.
Unfortunately, this may not last, as the winds will strengthen, significantly increasing the risk of fires breaking out in the next 48 hours. The Clippers are scheduled to play again at home on Wednesday against the Nets.
Related News :