LOS ANGELES — In a decisive move due to the devastating wildfires sweeping through Southern California, the NBA has announced the postponement of home games for both the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers that were scheduled for Saturday.
The Lakers were set to compete against the San Antonio Spurs, while the Clippers were slated to face off against the Charlotte Hornets. As of now, there are no rescheduled dates for these games, and it remains uncertain if the upcoming home games on Monday and Wednesday for both teams will also face similar changes.
The league noted that they have been closely coordinating with local authorities in Los Angeles and Inglewood to assess the ongoing emergency situation in the area. The postponements were made with the intention of not diverting any local resources from the crucial wildfire relief efforts.
Among those personally impacted by the fires is Lakers coach JJ Redick, whose family suffered significant losses, including their temporary residence in Pacific Palisades, which was destroyed on Tuesday night. Redick expressed his disbelief at the sheer extent of the devastation he witnessed. “I was not prepared for what I saw,” he reflected. “It’s complete devastation and destruction… I don’t think you can ever prepare yourself for something like that. Our home is gone.”
In response to the crisis, the NBA, alongside the National Basketball Players Association, has committed to providing $1 million in immediate relief to organizations such as the American Red Cross and World Central Kitchen. This donation aims to assist those directly affected by the fires, with efforts also underway to discuss long-term support and reconstruction initiatives in collaboration with the Lakers and Clippers.
It should be noted that the Lakers had another game postponed against Charlotte on Thursday, and this match has yet to be rescheduled. Looking ahead, the Lakers are expected to host the Spurs on Monday, while the Clippers will welcome the Miami Heat the same day. On Wednesday, the Heat are set to visit the Lakers, and the Clippers will host the Brooklyn Nets.
The Clippers have stated that they anticipate the games scheduled for Monday will proceed as planned. “The health and safety of our community and our fans remains our highest priority,” the team emphasized in a statement.
