The NBA announced that the Lakers’ game against the Charlotte Hornets scheduled for Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena was postponed because of the ongoing fires in the Los Angeles area.
The league said in its statement released Thursday morning that the date for the rescheduled game will be announced at a later time.
“The entire NBA family sends its thoughts and support to the community of Los Angeles during this challenging time,” part of the league’s statement read. “We are grateful for the thousands of local firefighters and first responders who have demonstrated enormous bravery. Our prayers remain with those affected by the unimaginable devastation caused by the wildfires.”
The NBA announces that tonight’s Lakers-Hornets game has been postponed because of the wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The date for the rescheduled game will be announced at a later time.
— Khobi Price (@khobiprice.bsky.social) 2025-01-09T18:37:43.937Z
Tickets for Thursday’s game will be honored for the undetermined rescheduled date.
“We’re heartbroken for Los Angeles,” the Lakers said in a statement shortly after Thursday’s game was postponed. “Our thoughts are with all those impacted by this unimaginable situation. And our gratitude is with the first responders and all of you who come together when we need each other the most. [Thursday’s] game will be rescheduled to focus on what matters most [on Thursday.
“We’re with you, LA.”
The Lakers’ next scheduled game is Saturday night against the San Antonio Spurs at Crypto.com Arena.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said his family was among several who had to evacuate their homes on Tuesday in light of the wildfires that spread throughout Los Angeles County.
“I just want to acknowledge and send thoughts and prayers to everyone in the Palisades right now – it’s where I live,” Redick said Tuesday ahead of the Lakers’ road loss to the Dallas Mavericks. “My family and my wife’s family, my wife’s twin sister, they’ve evacuated. I know that a lot of people are freaking out, including my family. And from the sound of things with the winds coming, I know a lot of people are scared. So I just want to acknowledge that. Thoughts and prayers, for sure. I hope everybody stays safe.”
ESPN reported on Thursday that Redick’s rental home in Pacific Palisades was one of the structures lost.
In light of the Palisades and Eaton fires, the NHL postponed Wednesday night’s Kings game against the Calgary Flames that was scheduled to be played at Crypto.com Arena – the same venue where the Lakers were scheduled to host the Hornets before the game was postponed.
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard flew home to Los Angeles on Wednesday ahead of the team’s road loss to the Denver Nuggets to be with family members who reportedly evacuated from their homes and were affected by the wildfires in the area. Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said Tuesday that his mother evacuated her home in the Palisades, while team video coordinator Everett Dayton, who grew up in the Palisades, lost his family home to the fire.
The Palisades fire started around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, quickly spreading because of the windstorm across Southern California. Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said Thursday morning that the number of structures damage or destroyed by the fire that has severely damaged the Palisades and Malibu was “in the thousands.”
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Thursday that about 180,000 residents were impacted by evacuation orders for the wildfires in L.A. County, while another 200,000 were under evacuation warnings. The Palisades Fire is already the most destructive in Los Angeles history.
“The entire NBA family sends its thoughts and support to the community of Los Angeles during this challenging time,” the league said in a statement. “We are grateful for the thousands of local firefighters and first responders who have demonstrated enormous bravery. Our prayers remain with those affected by the unimaginable devastation caused by the wildfires.”