Russell Westbrook is a reflection of the city where he was raised.

The Nuggets’ point guard was born in Long Beach, Calif. It’s far enough from the parts of Los Angeles that are being destroyed by wildfires, but the devastation still hits close to home. Westbrook said his immediate family is safe, but he knows plenty of others who aren’t as fortunate.

“Close friends and family have lost their homes and everything. The last couple of days, honestly, man, I’ve been praying so much, not just for the people I know but for everyone,” Westbrook said after Denver’s 126-103 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday at Ball Arena.

“Being from L.A. and never seeing anything like this before and not being able to do nothing is really difficult.”

Clippers’ star Kawhi Leonard wasn’t as fortunate. He left Denver to return to Los Angeles to help his family evacuate. His coach, Ty Lue, supported the decision and worried pregame how his team would handle it all.

“We know that we have a game we have to play, that we want to win,” Lue said. “Just give everything we’ve got. … It’s hard to put things like this behind you when so many people are affected, but it’s something we’ve got to try to do tonight. It’s going to be tough. I’m not sure if we’ll be able to do it or not, but we’ve got to go out there and compete at a high level and give it everything we’ve got.”

The 36-year-old Westbrook is leaning on his faith, but that’s not making sleep come any easier. He hoped to sneak in a nap Wednesday afternoon but couldn’t quite doze off. He’s been thinking about the people who’ve lost not just their homes but businesses, investments and other meaningful pieces of land.

“It’s all gone, and there’s nothing you can do about it. That hurts me, personally. Not being able to do nothing is difficult for me to be able to see and watch,” the former UCLA Bruin said. “I think the best thing I can do — obviously, this is my job — but go out and try to give people joy and inspiration by going out and playing the game as hard as I can.”

Westbrook did just that. He finished with 19 points on 8-of-16 shooting and added eight assists and six rebounds in nearly 30 minutes of playing time. That helped the Nuggets get a win with Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon sidelined.

“He imposes his will on the game. He really does. It’s incredible to watch the things that he does, the aggression, the attack mindset,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.

“What he’s doing as a 17-year vet is just incredible.”

That approach was most evident when DeAndre Jordan was at the line in the middle of the first quarter. Westbrook was first whistled for a lane violation. Then, he told former teammate Ivica Zubac that he was going to get the offensive rebound should Jordan, a subpar free throw shooter, miss again. Jordan missed. Westbrook beat Zubac to the ball and came up with a tip-in that gave Denver an early eight-point lead.

Malone floated the idea that Westbrook might play especially hard against the Clippers, the team he played for last season. That idea brought a smile to Westbrook’s face, but he said he plays hard every night, regardless of opponent.

“I leave it on the line every night. I’m grateful to be able to do that every single night, and I don’t take a possession or this game for granted, because it’s not promised to you by any means,” Westbrook said.

“I love to use this game and its platform to inspire people.”

Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 21 points and nine assists, while Michael Porter Jr. (19), Julian Strawther (16), Christian Braun (15), and Jordan (12) all scored in double figures.

Norman Powell led the Clippers with 30 points with 10 of those coming on 13 free throws. James Harden added 16 points on 15 shots from the field.

When Westbrook sat at the podium for his postgame press conference, he wasn’t quite sure of the latest developments back home other than a text message from his wife, informing him their kids’ school was closed again Thursday. What he did know was that he comes from a resilient place.

“It’s going to be a tough rebuild, but L.A. is very strong,” Westbrook said. “We can stick together and make something happen.”

NUGGETS 126, CLIPPERS 103

What happened: Denver led by 14 after the first quarter, extended the lead to 66-50 at halftime and took a 21-point advantage to the fourth quarter. The end of Denver’s bench got to close out the game, as the Nuggets improved to 21-15.

What went right: The Nuggets dominated the paint despite Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon missing the game. Denver finished with a 56-24 edge in points in the paint, helping the team improve to 8-0 on the second night of a back-to-back set this season.

What went wrong: Denver was a minute away from holding its opponent to fewer than 100 points for the third time this season, but Jordan Miller’s late free throws and a Bones Hyland 3 ended that possibility.

Highlight of the night: Two former Clippers connected on some Lob City action early in the third quarter. Russell Westbrook drove into the teeth of the Clippers’ defense and tossed an alley-oop up to DeAndre Jordan, who finished with an emphatic, one-handed slam that put Denver up 18.

Up next: The Nuggets conclude a three-game homestand against the Nets on Friday at Ball Arena.