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What Happy LA Looks Like: Photos From The Lakers 2020 Championship Win (Before The Tactical Alert)
City Hall is lit up purple and gold in celebration of the Lakers 2020 NBA Championship. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
The Los Angeles Lakers brought home their 17th championship on Sunday night, besting the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, 106-93. Then came the revelry.
Despite the city urging people to demonstrate joy at home, Lakers fans took to the streets around Staples Center to celebrate the win. Fireworks lit up the skies. People stuck in traffic jams passed the time by hanging out of car windows cheering, chanting, waving flags, and twirling jerseys. And throughout the night, Kobe Bryant's name echoed in the air like a prayer.
Many fans expressed catharsis. "We needed this," and "this one's for us" were common refrains.
Then came the confrontations between crowds and police. The night took a turn and officers began to use less-than-lethal munitions to disperse the crowds. LAPD said 76 people were arrested.
Last night’s largely peaceful celebration in Downtown LA of the Lakers championship turned into confrontational, violent & destructive behavior.
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) October 12, 2020
Latest details:
76 arrested
30+ buildings damaged
8 officers injured
2 injured by less lethal munitions fired by our officers pic.twitter.com/BZ2nYWHz3c
A Lakers fan holds a makeshift NBA trophy fron their car's sunroof on Sunday after Lakers won the 2020 NBA Championship. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
Lakers fans celebrate in front of the Staples Center on October 11, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. People gathered to celebrate after the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
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Laker fans take to the streets in downtown Los Angeles to celebrate the Lakers victory over the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Championships. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
Laker fans congregate outside of Staples Center to celebrate the Lakers victory over the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Championships. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
A Lakers fan cheers from a car window in the traffic jam created around Staples Center on Sunday Night. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
A fan bangs a Lakers' drum in celebration at a gethering in front of Staples Center. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
A Lakers fan holds a Kobe Bryant t-shirt out of their car window after Lakers won the 2020 NBA Championship. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
Fans hang out of their sunroofs and car windows sunday night as people gathered throughout Downtown Los Angeles to celebrate the Lakers victory over the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
Fans gather around Staples Center after Lakers beat the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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Laker fans wave flags from their car windows and sunroof as they drive through downtown Los Angeles. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
Laker fans stand on their car celebrating the Lakers victory over the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
A family gathers at staples center to celebrate the Lakers winning the NBA Championship. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
A quick moving Lakers fan wore a hoodie declaring the Lakers 2020 Champs on Sunday Evening.(Chava Sanchez/LAist)
Laker fans wave flags and cheer in front of Staples Center to celebrate the Lakers Victory over the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Finals. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
Many fans wore Kobe Bryant Jerseys as tribute on Sunday as they celebrated the Lakers victory over the Miami Heat. Kobe's name was chanted repeatedly throughout the night. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
A couple watches the fireworks above Staples Center on Sunday. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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Laker fans take to the streets in downtown Los Angeles to celebrate the Lakers victory over the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Finals. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
Laker fans take selfies outside of Staples Center. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
Laker fans start to leave the are as the police begin to disperse the crowds. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
LAPD officers moniter the crowds in front of staples center. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
Law enforcement officers prepare to disperse a crowd of Lakers fans near the Staples Center on October 11, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. People gathered to celebrate after the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Law enforcement officers prepare to disperse a crowd of Lakers fans near the Staples Center on October 11, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. People gathered to celebrate after the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Law enforcement officers prepare to disperse a crowd of Lakers fans near the Staples Center on October 11, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. People gathered to celebrate after the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.(Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
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