The Lakers’ game with the San Antonio Spurs scheduled for Saturday night in Los Angeles has been postponed by the NBA because of wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The NBA also postponed the Clippers’ game with Charlotte at Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
“The NBA and the Clippers and the Lakers organizations have been in communication with local officials in Los Angeles and Inglewood about the ongoing situation in the Los Angeles area and the game postponements ensure no resources will be diverted from the wildfire response efforts,” the league said in a statement.
The games will be played at a date to be determined later this season. Tickets for both games will be honored on the rescheduled game date.
The NBA and National Basketball Players Assn. also announced plans to donate $1 million for “immediate relief” to American Red Cross, World Central Kitchen and other organizations supporting the aid efforts in the area.
The Lakers held a practice Friday in El Segundo with the belief that Saturday’s game with the Spurs would be played while also understanding how fluid the situation is.
Lakers coach JJ Redick, who lost his home in the Pacific Palisades on the first day of the Palisades fire, said he hoped his team would be allowed to play Saturday.
“We’re prepared for whatever tomorrow. We obviously are going to work with the NBA, the Spurs, the city and do what’s right. I want to play tomorrow; I want to coach tomorrow. I want these guys to play tomorrow and if we can play, we’ll play,” Redick said. “I do believe for everybody, for everybody that has been impacted by this, there is a grieving process. There’s a healing process. I can only speak for myself, part of my healing and grieving process is being here with these guys and coaching basketball.”
The Lakers had even scheduled a shootaround for Saturday morning before the game was postponed Friday night. The team also had Thursday’s game against Charlotte postponed.
Both games will be rescheduled at a later date.
The Lakers are scheduled to play San Antonio again on Monday at Crypto.com Arena.
The Clippers posted a message on social media saying that events on their calendar for next week will go on as scheduled, including UFC 311 on Jan. 18. Intuit Dome also announced a benefit concert for Jan. 30.
