The Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard is starting to go off the road, taking care of his family amid the LA wildfires

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers back into action on Monday night, the host Miami Heat in the team’s first game after a four-day layoff due to the Los Angeles fire. It was also the first time anyone outside of the team, friends and family had had a chance to speak with Leonard since the fires started.

Leonard left the Clippers ahead of their contest against the Denver Nuggets last week after it was announced his family was among those told to evacuate the Pacific Palisades area because of the fire.

Kawhi Leonard starts to leave Clippers trip due to fire

The Clippers defeated the Heat on Monday night, 109-98, after another monster third quarter in which LA outscored Miami 36-20.

Norman Powell led the Clippers with 29 points, adding six rebounds and three steals on the night. James Harden added 26 points, 11 assists and five rebounds while knocking down six 3-pointers. Ivica Zubac recorded his second career 20-20 game, finishing with 21 points, 20 rebounds and two blocks on 10-of-13 shooting.

The Clippers performed well on a night when many wondered how the players and the city would respond to the return of basketball. This was a city that saw thousands of homes burned, at least 25 lives lost, and hundreds of thousands of lives changed forever.

The Clippers even saw several members of their organization have to evacuate days earlier due to the fires in Los Angeles.

“It was tough,” Tyronn Lue said of getting the team focused after the game was postponed and the uncertainty. “It was hard just to understand what everyone was going through.” The whole town and everyone rallying behind each other is just trying to do what they can to help friends, family, neighbors. It’s a tough time.”

James Harden, who grew up in Los Angeles and went to Artesia High School, said he was not one of those affected by the fires, but struggled to find words to explain something he had never seen before in his life.

“That’s a really sad man, really,” Harden said after the Clippers’ win. “I don’t know how to explain it.” So many people have been affected by this tragedy. Whether it’s material things or loved ones, whatever the case may be, you don’t really know what to say to people, but you try to support them and have their backs and really come together and bond. Honestly, it’s the only way we have.

“For me, I’m just trying to find ways that I can put my stamp on it and help with whatever needs to be done.” It’s something you can’t control and it’s frustrating. I feel for the people who had to be evacuated, who lost their loved ones, who lost everything they had. We will figure out how to help people.”

Kawhi Leonard, who missed the team’s final game against the Denver Nuggets to return to Los Angeles to be with evacuated family members, returned to action Monday night. Leonard finished with six points, five rebounds and two steals in 20 minutes and 44 seconds of action.

The Clippers forward participated in practices last weekend and was available to play without additional restrictions other than the 20 minutes he was already limited to the week before this game.

“The last few days we’ve had practice,” Leonard said. “What is today?” Monday. So we had practice yesterday, the day before, they gave us some time for our families. As everyone knows, there’s been an evacuation in LA, so everyone’s trying to gather their families, those affected, and just get everyone settled.

When asked about his own situation involving family and friends, Leonard was brief, indicating that no one is okay right now.

“As we know, not everyone is well. You saw the houses being burned, so that’s self-explanatory.”

Los Angeles is under another very severe weather warning. Reports from local LA news stations and top meteorologists say high winds and potential fire danger should be expected Tuesday morning through Wednesday night.

Assuming Saturday night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets is the only one to be postponed, the Clippers have a chance to get back on track with a solid January home stretch that continues with the Brooklyn Nets in town on Wednesday.

Six of the next seven games are at home, and seven of the next 11 games are against teams below .500. In fact, the Clippers don’t even have to travel outside the Pacific Time Zone until January 27th. With only two back-to-back sets, Kawhi Leonard should be able to participate in every game but one half of those back-to-back sets.

The Clippers hope that the return of basketball will find ways to help those affected by the surrounding tragedies.

“We’re just here to support, try to lift people up by playing basketball,” coach Tyronn Lue said. “See if you can put a smile on the faces and see if we can have people come together, watch the game and do something different to try and take their mind off it.” But now are hard times. We as a team, an organization, try to do everything we can to help. I just have to get through it. Stay strong and get through it.”

“It’s going to happen eventually,” James Harden added. “I think for the most part they’ve had enough from what I’ve heard, so ultimately we should have gone back to basketball, but then still do our due diligence and figure out how to help the people who are still evacuated and have nowhere to go.” It will be a work in progress for a very, very, very long time. It’s something that all of us as a group will have to be willing to sacrifice and help.”