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The Celtics’ Marcus Smart drives to the basket during the first half of Thursday’s game against the Lakers at Staples Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against the Boston Celtics in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers drivers to the basket against the Boston Celtics in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics shoots over Alex Caruso #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Alfonzo McKinnie #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers scrambles for the loose ball against the Boston Celtics in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Los Angeles Lakers fan reacts as other fans sit socially distance as fans are allowed in the arena for the first time in over a year due to the Coronavirus Pandemic in the second half of a NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers drivers to the basket against the Boston Celtics in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics controls the ball against Dennis Schroder #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Basketball fans look on s 2000 fans are allowed inside the arena for the first time in over a year due to the Coronavirus Pandemic in the first half of a NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics reacts after committing a foul against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Head Coach Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics reacts against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Montrezl Harrell #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers slam dunks against the Boston Celtics in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Basketball fans look on s 2000 fans are allowed inside the arena for the first time in over a year due to the Coronavirus Pandemic in the first half of a NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Alex Caruso #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers passes against the Boston Celtics in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a foul in the first half of a NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Montrezl Harrell #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against Tristan Thompson #13 of the Boston Celtics in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James, left, along with teammate Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on against the Boston Celtics in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Basketball fans look on s 2000 fans are allowed inside the arena for the first time in over a year due to the Coronavirus Pandemic in the first half of a NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers passes against the Boston Celtics in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James, left, along with teammate Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on against the Boston Celtics in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Alex Caruso #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against the Boston Celtics in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Boston Celtics in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Los Angeles Lakers fan sits socially distance as fans are allowed in the arena for the first time in over a year due to the Coronavirus Pandemic in the second half of a NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Montrezl Harrell #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against Tristan Thompson #13 of the Boston Celtics in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a three point shot against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics passes against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Dennis Schroder #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers passes against the Boston Celtics in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Boston Celtics in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a foul in the first half of a NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Fans socially distance prior to Thursday’s game between the Lakers and the Boston Celtics at Staples Center. Nearly 2,000 spectators were allowed in the arena, making them the first crowd there for any event in more than a year. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers, left, talks with Tristan Thompson #13 of the Boston Celtics during a time out in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts toward an official in the first half of a NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a foul in the first half of a NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown (7) shoots against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Los Angeles Lakers’ Montrezl Harrell, center, goes to basket between Boston Celtics’ Tristan Thompson (13) and Jaylen Brown (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Los Angeles Lakers’ Alfonzo McKinnie (28) looks to pass the ball on the floor while defended by Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum (0), Payton Pritchard (11) and Luke Kornet (40) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Boston Celtics’ Marcus Smart (36) goes to the basket under pressure from Los Angeles Lakers’ Marc Gasol (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Boston Celtics’ Tristan Thompson, right, fouls Los Angeles Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Boston Celtics’ Tristan Thompson (13) passes the ball between Los Angeles Lakers’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (1) and Marc Gasol (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Los Angeles Lakers’ Devontae Cacok, right, drives against Boston Celtics’ Moritz Wagner during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown shoots over Los Angeles Lakers’ Alex Caruso (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum (0) dunks against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Boston Celtics’ Luke Kornet (40) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Lakers’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Los Angeles Lakers’ Marc Gasol, back, and Boston Celtics’ Kemba Walker chase the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Los Angeles Lakers’ Talen Horton-Tucker (5) goes to basket over Boston Celtics’ Moritz Wagner (20) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Los Angeles Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma (0) is fouled by Boston Celtics’ Marcus Smart (36) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Boston Celtics’ Tristan Thompson dunks against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Lakers fan Desiree Engle of Los Angeles, second from right, along with other fans taunts the Boston Celtics bus as 2000 fans are permitted for the first time in over a year into staplers center prior to a NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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A few of the only 2,000 fans that are permitted tonight’s game gather for pictures prior to a NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Los Angeles Lakers fans make their way toward the staples center where they have to show proof of vaccination or a negative Coronavirus test to enter prior to a NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Lakers fans make their way toward the staples center where they have to show proof of vaccination or a negative Coronavirus test to enter prior to a NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Lakers fans make their way toward the staples center where they have to show proof of vaccination or a negative Coronavirus test to enter prior to a NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Los Angeles Lakers fans sit socially distance as fans are allowed in the arena for the first time in over a year due to the Coronavirus Pandemic in the second half of a NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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A few of the nearly 2,000 fans who were allowed inside Staples Center for the first time in more than a year stand during the National Anthem prior to Thursday’s game between the Lakers and the Boston Celtics. The Lakers lost, 121-113, but the fans created a buzz in the arena that had been absent since the COVID-19 pandemic started. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Fans wait on their seats for an NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. Lakers is the first major Southland sports franchise to allow limited spectators to attend the game after the state and Los Angeles County have both eased COVID-19 restrictions to allow spectators at indoor events. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Fans go through the security check as they arrive for an NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. Lakers is the first major Southland sports franchise to allow limited spectators to attend the game after the state and Los Angeles County have both eased COVID-19 restrictions to allow spectators at indoor events. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Fans gather outside the Staples Center before an NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. Lakers is the first major Southland sports franchise to allow limited spectators to attend the game after the state and Los Angeles County have both eased COVID-19 restrictions to allow spectators at indoor events. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Fans arrive for an NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Lakers began allowing fans to attend games, in limited numbers, effective with Thursday’s game. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Fans have their tickets checked before entering the Staples Center for an NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. Lakers is the first major Southland sports franchise to allow limited spectators to attend the game after the state and Los Angeles County have both eased COVID-19 restrictions to allow spectators at indoor events. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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A fan has his ticket checked before entering the Staples Center for an NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. Lakers is the first major Southland sports franchise to allow limited spectators to attend the game after the state and Los Angeles County have both eased COVID-19 restrictions to allow spectators at indoor events. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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A fan goes through the security check as he arrives for an NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Lakers began allowing fans to attend games, in limited numbers, effective with Thursday’s game. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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A fan has his ticket checked before entering the Staples Center for an NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. Lakers is the first major Southland sports franchise to allow limited spectators to attend the game after the state and Los Angeles County have both eased COVID-19 restrictions to allow spectators at indoor events. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Fans have their tickets checked before entering the Staples Center for an NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. Lakers is the first major Southland sports franchise to allow limited spectators to attend the game after the state and Los Angeles County have both eased COVID-19 restrictions to allow spectators at indoor events. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Fans eat outside the Staples Center before an NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. Lakers is the first major Southland sports franchise to allow limited spectators to attend the game after the state and Los Angeles County have both eased COVID-19 restrictions to allow spectators at indoor events. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Fans eat outside the Staples Center before an NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. Lakers is the first major Southland sports franchise to allow limited spectators to attend the game after the state and Los Angeles County have both eased COVID-19 restrictions to allow spectators at indoor events. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Fans eat outside the Staples Center before an NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. Lakers is the first major Southland sports franchise to allow limited spectators to attend the game after the state and Los Angeles County have both eased COVID-19 restrictions to allow spectators at indoor events. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Staff wait to welcome fans outside the Staples Center for an NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. Lakers is the first major Southland sports franchise to allow limited spectators to attend the game after the state and Los Angeles County have both eased COVID-19 restrictions to allow spectators at indoor events. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Fans arrive for an NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. Lakers is the first major Southland sports franchise to allow limited spectators to attend the game after the state and Los Angeles County have both eased COVID-19 restrictions to allow spectators at indoor events. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
LOS ANGELES — “DE-FENSE! DE-FENSE! DE-FENSE!”
The crew at Staples Center had pumped those words through the speakers maybe hundreds of times this season, but the difference between a recorded chant and a real one is immeasurably better.
The Lakers were expecting to get “a jolt” from the first home fans they’ve heard in their own building in more than 13 months, but those 1,915 souls had to wait patiently to see it, when a bench-driven Lakers lineup went on a 29-10 closing run in a game that was already decided but which they didn’t want to see end.
Maybe it was the hustle of the group – led by Talen Horton-Tucker (19 points) and Ben McLemore (17 points) – that inspired the crowd to pipe up. Maybe waiting since March 10, 2020 – and wearing the gear celebrating a championship they had only seen through screens – had them pent up.
But as the Lakers staged their ultimately futile comeback effort, the crowd cheered them, and they lustily booed the Boston Celtics as they subbed their starters back in with 1:50 remaining to protect the dwindling lead. The crowd celebrated each shot the Celtics missed and screamed for each Lakers’ answer as the game got as close as five points after Boston had led by as much as 27.
It ended as a 121-113 loss for the banged-up Lakers (34-22), perhaps an overall forgettable on-court night against a historic rival. But there is something that fans bring to a game that is louder than volume, and more catching to the eye than a row of gold Kobe Bryant jerseys; it is soul.
And while the soul of Staples Center in these pandemic times is a long way from being restored, Thursday night’s game between longtime rivals was the first, small step in that process.
Even though Coach Frank Vogel made his commute to downtown L.A. likely knowing how hard it would be to win without his stars, he said he felt a little more excited on the drive than he’s been most nights this season preparing to play in an empty cavernous arena. If the Lakers had just a little more time, Vogel wondered …
“If we have another minute or two, maybe we’d get over that hump and that would’ve been a really awesome victory,” he said. “It was just a fun thing to watch.”
Only 1,915 were permitted to attend, meaning the home crowd was a far cry from full strength. But then again, so was the home team, even more than they have been for weeks without All-Stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
A few nights removed from getting his already injured foot stepped on against Brooklyn, center Andre Drummond’s right toe swelled up enough so he couldn’t play. Similarly, Markieff Morris’ sprained left ankle kept him out of a second straight game.
Even the players who did take the court had to tough out injuries: Point guard Dennis Schröder played despite an infection in the ball of his right foot, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope needed treatment again for back spasms and played through it.
The most alarming instance of gritting out pain came in the third quarter, when center Marc Gasol wrestled for a loose ball near midcourt and dislocated his left pinkie, which flopped at an unnatural angle from his hand (Vogel called it, “kind of gross”).
But after getting the stray finger reset, Gasol suddenly unleashed a scoring torrent: The 36-year-old scored 11 points in the following five minutes to reach a season-best mark of 18. With nine good digits, he had the best 3-point shooting night (4 for 6) of anyone on the team.
“It obviously felt a little bit when you go up (to shoot), the grip of the ball,” Gasol said. “But adrenaline helps. At that point, you just want to continue to help the team.”
But even though the Lakers were able to keep the margin in single digits through the end of Gasol’s uncharacteristic heater, it quickly got away from them as Jaylen Brown buried them with 40 points on a 17-for-20 shooting night. The Lakers’ top-ranked defense, down so many bodies, was no match for the cuts and shooting touch of the Celtics starters.
It’s not likely to get better soon: X-rays on Gasol’s pinkie revealed a fracture, and while the Spaniard said he wasn’t too worried about an injury to his non-dominant hand, he was listed as questionable for Saturday’s game against league-leading Utah. Vogel also said Schröder had played through “a lot of pain” in the performance.
The Staples Center crew still pumped in a little crowd noise to supplement the socially distanced audience, but the most personalized roars were still easy to hear. As the team funneled in and our of the tunnel toward the locker room, they heard people shouting at them: “Repeat!” or “Back to back!”
“I just think for us to just have fans, hear cheers and hear how loud it got at the end of the game was really exciting for us,” said Kyle Kuzma. “I think that’s the thing we missed the most, and as the days go on, hopefully we get more and more fans and that roar gets louder and louder.”
In between halves, fans wandered through the concourse, ordering food on their phones and taking their meals out to the brisk night air of Star Plaza. They strolled through halls that haven’t been open for months, in what is typically the busiest venue in Los Angeles hosting three pro teams and large-scale concerts. A near-complete army of security, ushers, vendors and janitors — most of whom have not worked a game since last year — were waiting on hand.
At halftime, Rashard Clark of South Los Angeles was taking photos by a mural of L.A. stars, including Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. He had come to the game on short notice when his cousin, reserve guard Alfonzo McKinnie, got him tickets.
“He told us on Tuesday, ‘Y’all are coming on Thursday,’” Clark said. “And I was like, ‘Oh we’re coming that early? I can move my schedule.’”
As McKinnie was on the court for the Lakers’ final rally, Clark and his family roared and stomped in their lower bowl seats. A win wasn’t coming, but being at a game has its own rewards.
“We’ve watching on Time Warner Cable for the last year,” he said. “So instead of watching in the living room, the den, my room, seeing that actually live, that was fun.”
As the first night of fans finally ended and the audience slowly left their seats, public address announcer Lawrence Tanter addressed them in his rich baritone, uncharacteristically going off script.
“So good to see fans back at Staples Center,” he said. “Thank you all for your support.”
.@kylekuzma talks post-game with @LakersReporter about fans returning to STAPLES, Jaylen Brown “making a lot of tough shots”, and the unit that closed out the game for the #LakeShow. pic.twitter.com/b6xFVYhiVB
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) April 16, 2021
“Those guys came out and competed their tails off…I’m very proud of them.” Frank Vogel with @LakersReporter on the group that closed the game for the #LakeShow and nearly completed the comeback. pic.twitter.com/b9GiwLlZth
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) April 16, 2021
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