After delaying a few Saturday games due to the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area, the NBA has confirmed that the Lakers and Clippers will play their scheduled games on Monday at Crypto.com Arena and Intuit Dome. The Lakers are set to face the San Antonio Spurs, and the Clippers will host the Miami Heat.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue commented, saying that the decision is out of his hands, but he trusts the NBA’s judgment. He added, “They know we’re going through a tough time right now in California, and they understand that.
Hopefully, we can bring some joy with the game coming back tomorrow and some togetherness, as you may, and try to put some smiles on people’s faces in tough times.”
The NBA had previously postponed games between the Spurs and Lakers and the Hornets and Clippers, which will be rescheduled. The league has also pledged $1 million for immediate relief to the American Red Cross, World Central Kitchen, and other organizations.
The Lakers will host a donation drive at home games starting Monday, where fans can bring unused, unopened items to support the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
Approximately 105,000 people are still under mandatory evacuation orders due to the wildfires. At least 16 people have died, and the Palisades Fire is the most destructive in L.A.’s history, destroying more than 5,600 structures over 24,000 acres.
Lue reflected on the devastating effects of the fires, saying, “Just seeing families and people lose their houses, lose their businesses, lose loved ones. It’s pretty devastating, and it’s tough to really fathom what they’re going through right now.”
Spurs guard Chris Paul, who lives in Los Angeles and previously played for the Clippers, expressed his concern after his team’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Paul mentioned that his wife and children had evacuated their home on Tuesday, saying, “It’s definitely scary, everything that is going on. I’m sending so much love and prayers to some of my closest friends and family who have lost everything.”
Clippers forward Nicolas Batum described the unsettling experience of playing in Denver while evacuations were happening in Los Angeles. “I was on the phone with my family all day. I didn’t sleep that night,” he shared. “Just to make sure my wife and kids were OK.”
The Spurs arrived in Santa Monica on Thursday but decided to move to a hotel in downtown Los Angeles for safety reasons. The NBA had also postponed Thursday’s game between the Lakers and the Hornets at Crypto.com Arena, which has not yet been rescheduled.
Lakers coach JJ Redick, who lost his home in the Palisades Fire, is also affected by the situation. After Monday’s games, the Lakers are scheduled to host the Heat on Wednesday, and the Clippers will face the Brooklyn Nets on the same day.
