The NBA announced that Saturday's home games between the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers have been postponed due to wildfires ravaging Southern California.
The Lakers were scheduled to host the San Antonio Spurs, and the Clippers were scheduled to host the Charlotte Hornets.
The league has not yet announced alternate dates for the two games, with both teams scheduled to have home games on Monday and Wednesday, and the Lakers scheduled for another home game on Friday, so more games could come. It has not been made clear whether the area will be affected by the fire. The teams are also scheduled to play each other on January 19th, when the Clippers will be home in Inglewood, California.
Clippers' Kawhi Leonard leaves team to help family deal with raging wildfires: Report
Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick speaks during an NBA basketball press conference at the UCLA Health Training Center on Friday, January 10, 2025 in El Segundo, California during the deadly Pacific Palisades wildfire. He talked about how he and his family lost their home. (AP)
“The NBA and the Clippers and Lakers organizations are in contact with local authorities in Los Angeles and Inglewood regarding the current situation in the Los Angeles area and are aware that postponing games will divert resources from wildfire response efforts. “We are working hard to ensure that no such events occur,” the league said in a statement. In a statement.
Some members of both teams are dealing directly with the effects of the wildfires, including the Lakers coach, whose family's rental home in the Pacific Palisades burned down Tuesday night, destroying much of his property; Including JJ Redick.
“I was not prepared for what I saw,” Reddick told reporters. “Complete devastation and destruction. I had to take a different road to get to my house, but I went through a large part of the village, and everything was gone. Be prepared for something like that. I don't think it's ever possible. Our home is gone.”
'I wasn't prepared for what I saw': Lakers coach JJ Redick details devastation from Palisades fire
Los Angeles Lakers NBA basketball head coach JJ Redick is hugged by guard Austin Reaves before speaking to the media about the Pacific Palisades wildfires during a press conference on Friday, January 10, 2025 in El Segundo, California. right). left. (AP)
The NBA and its players' association, the National Basketball Players Association, announced Friday a $1 million donation in immediate relief to organizations working on victim support and recovery efforts, including the American Red Cross and World Central Kitchen.
The league added that the donation is intended to “assist those affected by this disaster” and that it is “working with the Lakers and Clippers on ways to support long-term support and rebuilding efforts.”
The Lakers' game against the Hornets scheduled for Thursday was also postponed, but has not yet been postponed.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard watches during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, January 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin Onshia)
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The Lakers will once again host the Spurs on Monday when the Clippers take on the Miami Heat. On Wednesday, the Lakers will host the Heat and the Clippers will host the Brooklyn Nets. The Lakers are also scheduled to play the Nets on Friday.
The Clippers said they expect games starting Monday to be played as scheduled.
“The health and safety of our community and fans remains our top priority,” the team said in a statement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
