- Veteran Monfils stuns fourth seed Fritz at Australian Open
- TikTok's journey from fun app to US security concern
- US TikTok ban looms as Trump seeks last-ditch solution
- Swiss Ruegg wins uphill finish to lead women's Tour Down Under
- Rybakina needs physio 'magic' after fighting on at Australian Open
- Swiatek destroys Raducanu as Sinner steps up Melbourne defence
- Irving shines as Mavs roll Thunder, Nuggets scorch Heat
- History-making 'lucky loser' Lys into Australian Open last 16
- Scratchy Navarro dumps Jabeur out of Australian Open
- In Brazil, disinformation deals Lula a bruising defeat
- South Korea court to decide on extending president's detention
- Slew of satellite projects aims to head off future wildfires
- TikTok could 'go dark' in US Sunday after Supreme Court ruling
- Brutal Swiatek routs Raducanu to reach Australian Open last-16
- Menendez brothers' hearing delayed by LA fires
- Tsunami survivor Sasaki overcame tragedy to reach MLB
- 'We're entertainers': Pegula backs Djokovic call to jazz up tennis
- Marathon man Draper warns Alcaraz he's in for a battle
- Israeli government approves Gaza ceasefire deal
- Hoffman, Hoey share PGA Tour lead in La Quinta
- Japanese star Sasaki announces joining LA Dodgers
- The video games bedeviling Elon Musk
- Gamers tear into Musk for 'faking' video game prowess
- Kvaratskhelia signs for Paris Saint-Germain from Napoli
- US Treasury to take 'extraordinary measures' to avoid debt default
- Lille warm up for Liverpool clash by going third in Ligue 1, Monaco lose
- Canada vows 'Trump tax' on US in response to tariffs: minister
- 'More sad than shocked': TikTok users brace for ban
- Global equities rally, pushing London and Frankfurt to new records
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- Frankfurt heap more pain on struggling Dortmund
- With Kvaratskhelia sale, Napoli turn page on historic Scudetto triumph
- US offered infrastructure incentive for DRC-Rwanda peace deal: official
- Pochettino wants to see some Argentine spirit in his USA squad
- US to tighten trade rules to hit low-cost China shipments
- Former Man Utd striker and 'football giant' Denis Law dies aged 84
- Sloppy Monaco stunned by Ligue 1 strugglers Montpellier
- Denis Law, the king of Man Utd's 'holy trinity'
- At VW home base, Germany's Scholz vows to revive economy
- Frankfurt drop Marmoush against Dortmund, confirm transfer talks
- Sixers star Embiid sidelined with knee swelling
- UK film, theatre legend Joan Plowright dies, aged 95
- 30 killed in Colombia armed violence, govt suspends rebel peace talks
- Trump readies for triumphant, but icy, inauguration
- Trump inauguration moved indoors due to extreme cold
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- Over 230,000 flee eastern DR Congo violence since January 1: UN
LA teams hope return to action can spark joy for fire-weary fans
The Los Angeles Rams reached the second round of the NFL playoffs on Monday as the Lakers and Clippers returned to NBA action in the fire-ravaged city, all paying tribute to first responders and offering solace to fans.
"Sports are a lot of things and sports can certainly provide an escape and a distraction," said Lakers coach JJ Redick, who lost the home he shared with his wife and two sons when the Palisades fire erupted last week.
"Hopefully sports tonight can provide some joy as well," Redick said.
More than 90,000 people remained displaced Monday, seven days after multiple wind-driven blazes erupted.
At least 24 people have been killed and thousands left without homes, and authorities warned that winds forecast to intensify again on Tuesday could lead to "extreme fire behavior and life-threatening conditions."
Two Lakers games and one Clippers game had been postponed before Monday's contests went ahead, and both teams dedicated the night to the community and first responders.
The Lakers fell to the San Antonio Spurs 126-102 at their Crypto.com Arena in downtown LA while the Clippers beat the Miami Heat 109-98 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood several miles south.
Meanwhile the Rams dominated the Minnesota Vikings 27-9 in an NFL wild card round playoff game relocated to Glendale, Arizona, because of the fires.
The Arizona Cardinals' home stadium was transformed with the colors and logos of the Rams. The team chartered a convoy of buses to bring fans from Los Angeles, with people turning up at SoFi Stadium before dawn to start the six-hour trip.
Fans brandished flags and signs thanking fire fighters and Rachel Platten performed her anthemic "Fight Song" in a pre-game ceremony.
The song celebrating resilience fit the "LA Strong" message sent Monday by the city's beloved teams.
Earlier in the day, a dozen Los Angeles pro clubs pledged $8 million toward wildfire relief and outlined plans for three events to distribute supplies to those affected by blazes still ravaging the United States' second-largest city.
- Stand together -
In addition to that concrete support, quarterback Matthew Stafford said the Rams hoped to provide a little emotional uplift as well.
"We knew what we were playing for," he said. "It's a tough time to be back (in Los Angeles). We're just happy that we came out and played like this tonight to get (fans) something to be happy about."
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said he hoped his team's game could "bring some smiles to some faces" although he acknowledged that "once these games are over it's still back to real life."
Veteran James Harden, a Los Angeles native, scored 21 of his 26 points in the second half to fuel a Clippers comeback and after the game leaned in to the "LA Strong" theme.
"We're going through some tough times right now," Harden said. "Something we've never seen before. So it's very, very powerful for us to stand together... as one we can stand together and get through it."
Spurs veteran Chris Paul, a former Clipper whose family had to evacuate their Los Angeles home, said the uncertainty caused by the fires was hard on the visiting teams, too.
"But I think us along with the Lakers probably were just excited to get a chance to hoop," said Paul who was a teammate of Reddick when both were with the Clippers.
He and Victor Wembanyama gave jerseys to Redick's young sons after the game.
Lakers star Anthony Davis was only sorry that the Lakers couldn't come up with a victory.
"One thing we found out during the course of Covid is sports kind of brings joy back to people, even if it's temporary," Davis said. "We were eager to play basketball again in front of our fans -- it sucks that we weren't able to get the win."
P.L.Madureira--PC