NBA Postpones Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers Games Due to Wildfires
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced that Saturday’s home games for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers have been postponed due to the wildfires sweeping through Southern California. The Lakers were set to host the San Antonio Spurs, while the Clippers were scheduled to host the Charlotte Hornets.
The league has not yet announced makeup dates for the two games, and it remains unclear if more games will be affected. The teams have home games scheduled for Monday and Wednesday, with the Lakers also set to host the Charlotte Hornets on Friday. Additionally, the two teams are scheduled to face each other on January 19, when the Clippers host the game in Inglewood, California.
The NBA and the teams have been in communication with local officials in Los Angeles and Inglewood regarding the ongoing situation and the game postponements. The league stated that no resources will be diverted from the wildfire response efforts.
Some members of both teams are directly affected by the wildfires, with Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick’s family losing their rental home in Pacific Palisades. Redick described the devastation as “complete devastation and destruction,” saying, “I had to go a different way to the house, but I went through most of the village, and it’s all gone. I don’t think you can ever prepare yourself for something like that.”
To support the victims and recovery efforts, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association have announced a $1 million donation to the American Red Cross, World Central Kitchen, and other organizations. The league is also working with the Lakers and Clippers on ways to support longer-term assistance and rebuilding efforts.
The Lakers had previously had a game against the Charlotte Hornets postponed, with that game yet to be rescheduled. The teams are set to play again on Monday, with the Lakers hosting the Spurs and the Clippers hosting the Miami Heat. The Lakers will host the Heat and the Nets on Wednesday, and the Clippers will host the Brooklyn Nets on the same day. The Clippers anticipate that the games starting Monday will be played as scheduled.