‘It was tough’ – Lakers & Clippers back in NBA action

Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers players said they found it “tough” as they returned to NBA action with ongoing wildfires in the city.

Two Lakers games and one Clippers game were postponed, but Monday’s contests went ahead and both teams dedicated the night to the community and emergency services.

The Lakers lost 126-102 to the San Antonio Spurs, while the Clippers beat the Miami Heat 109-98.

Fire crews in the Los Angeles area are still battling two large fires, with fears of further outbreaks due to expected high winds.

At least 24 people have died in the fires, and 23 others are missing. More than 90,000 people remain under evacuation orders as the Lakers practice JJ Redick is among those who lost their house in Palisades.

Lakers forward Anthony Davis had mixed feelings after finishing with 30 points and 13 rebounds as his team lost for the third straight game.

“We were eager to play basketball again in front of our fans. It’s a shame we weren’t able to win,” the 31-year-old said.

“I’ve thought about it a lot. We come out and play and whether we win, lose or draw, this game is over and everything is still going on in the world.

“So, (it’s) bittersweet in a sense because we still have people dealing with real situations. And we get to go out and play basketball. So it’s tough.”

Clippers players wore T-shirts that read “LA Strong” before their game in Inglewood, and LA native James Harden scored 21 of his 26 points in the second half as they rallied from five down at halftime to win.

“We’re going through some tough times right now,” he said. “Something we’ve never seen before. So it’s very, very strong for us to stand together. As one, we can stand together and get through it.”

Teammate Norman Powell, who finished with 29 points, added, “They lose everything and you’re focused on basketball.

“It’s a hard thing to focus on like it’s normal. You’re in this town where there’s tragedies and fires going on. But we’ve got a job at hand, they cleared us to play, so you have to to focus on it.”

Kawhi Leonard returned to the Clippers after missing Wednesday’s game against Denver to return to Los Angeles, where his family lives in one of the hardest-hit areas, Pacific Palisades.

The 33-year-old said he had been trying to “get the family in order and make sure everyone is in place and everyone is safe”.