LOS ANGELES — Basketball has been the furthest thing from many people’s minds throughout Southern California in light of the deadly wildfires that have ravaged the area over the past week.
The Lakers, in partnership with several local organizations and Southern California professional sports teams, made it evident their support for the local community was felt with donation drives, $3 million worth of Fanatics merchandise to Angelenos who evacuated from their homes and more than $8 million donated to assist local relief efforts.
But Lakers coach JJ Redick, whose rental home in Pacific Palisades was one of the structures lost to the Palisades Fire, hoped his team’s Monday night home game against the San Antonio Spurs, the Lakers’ first game since the fires started last Tuesday, could provide hope.
That it could be a positive “escape” or “distraction” from the tragedies from over the last week.
But eventually, basketball was going to become a primary focus again.
“At some point, for the players and the coaches, the game will end up getting back to just basketball,” Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson said pregame. “I think there’s certain emotions … or circumstances that come, positive or not, and a lot of times you feel it at the start of the game. I would not doubt that there will be an emotional charge … between the fans and the Lakers.”
But after an encouraging first half, the Lakers were dominated by the Spurs, especially in the fourth quarter, falling to San Antonio, 126-102.
The defeat was the Lakers’ their third consecutive loss dating to their road losses to the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks before Thursday’s home game against the Charlotte Hornets and Saturday’s against the Spurs were postponed.
Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 30 points, 13 rebounds and two blocked shots. LeBron James had 18 points, eight assists and five rebounds but had seven of the Lakers’ 18 turnovers and took a season-low 11 shots, the same number as Max Christie and three fewer than Austin Reaves.
The Spurs turned the Lakers’ 18 giveaways into 25 points.
But as much as the Lakers’ struggled late, their defense has slipped significantly over the last few games.
San Antonio outscored the Lakers 73-40 in the second half, including 37-13 in the fourth, after the Lakers had a 62-53 lead at halftime. The Spurs closed the third quarter on a 15-5 run to tie the score and outscored the Lakers 25-9 in the first nine minutes of the fourth.
Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell each scored 23 points for the Spurs. Harrison Barnes scored 10 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, and Chris Paul added 13 points, 10 assists and three steals.
The Lakers retired Michael Cooper’s No. 21 jersey with a halftime ceremony honoring the Hall of Fame guard who won five championships during the “Showtime” era.
More to come on this story.