FILE – The Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves play in the NBA game season opener at Crypto Arena in Los Angeles on October 22, 2024. (Photo by Frederick J. Brown/AFP)
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — NBA games are scheduled to return to wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles on Monday night, with the Clippers hosting the Miami Heat and the Lakers hosting Victor Wembaneyama and the San Antonio Spurs. We are planning to resume our schedule.
The Clippers announced during Sunday’s practice that the NBA had given them the green light to play at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, south of the Palisades Fire. Barring any changes, the Spurs are reportedly scheduled to play the Lakers again on Monday at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles.
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“I hope this nightmare ends soon!” Lakers star LeBron James posted on social media.
Read: NBA: Lakers coach JJ Redick admits family home lost in LA wildfires
It will be the Clippers’ first game in five days after Saturday’s home game against Charlotte was postponed due to deadly wildfires across Los Angeles. The Lakers had two home games postponed, one against the Hornets on Thursday and the first of a back-to-back against the Spurs scheduled for Saturday.
“It’s very hard to work on the game of basketball when people are losing their homes, kids losing their schools, losing their lives, because life is bigger than basketball,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. spoke. “We hope that the return to games tomorrow will bring some joy and togetherness and put smiles on people’s faces during these difficult times.”
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Instead of spending the day before a game resting, Clippers’ Terrence Mann planned to skip practice and scour his storage room for useful items.
“I just want to give away everything I can, lots of clothes, money, shoes,” he said. “I’m going to go help people, donate, drive around, do what I can to help.”
The Lakers announced plans for a donation drive at upcoming games starting Monday, asking fans to bring items in new packaging to support Los Angeles Area Food Bank relief efforts.
The Lakers’ UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo will begin functioning as a drive-through donation center starting Tuesday, the team said. The Lakers said non-food items such as deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotion, waterless shampoo, battery packs cell phone chargers, socks, mittens and gloves, hand warmers, beanies and blankets are a priority. .
The Lakers’ food products include peanuts and other nut butters, protein-based snacks, crackers, peanut butter crackers, trail mix, fruit snacks, energy bars, pop-top tuna, pop-top chicken, 100% juice boxes, raisins, and more. Dry fruits, UHT milk, cereal boxes, water and still drinks are also welcome.
The Spurs had to change hotels after arriving in Los Angeles due to fire concerns, but the Heat arrived as scheduled Saturday night after playing in Portland.
Read: NBA postpones Lakers-Clippers game due to Los Angeles wildfires
“Obviously, we just want to see the community come together again,” Spurs forward Harrison Barnes said.
Since the disaster began with multiple fires breaking out around Los Angeles County on Tuesday, checking the app and seeing and hearing news about the fires 24/7 has become a habit.
“I’ve watched more news in the last three days than I’ve ever seen in my life,” Mann said with a smile. “I was just watching the news on YouTube TV to get an update on what was going on in the locker room.”
The Clippers were on the road when the fire broke out. Kawhi Leonard left his team in Denver and returned home to his family in Pacific Palisades, one of the area’s two major fires.
“It was good to see him and his family doing well,” Mann said.
Some members of the Clippers have had to evacuate their homes, and some know people who have lost their homes. Lakers coach JJ Redick said last week that a fire completely destroyed the home he and his family are renting this season, along with most of his possessions.
“People still aren’t getting much sleep,” Mann said. “Some people have lost power, some people have family matters to deal with, some people have their children’s schools burned down. There’s a lot going on. It’s much bigger than basketball.”
In Denver, Nicolas Batum said he checked his phone at halftime to see where the fire was burning (something he would never normally do). When he returned to L.A. and thought his family had to flee, he packed it up in a hurry.
Now, the Clippers want to get back to work and give their fans some rest.
“We’ve been through some crazy things these past five days,” Batum said. “I think people probably need that to clear their minds for a couple of hours.”
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The Clippers and Lakers also have home games scheduled for Wednesday, with the Clippers playing the Brooklyn Nets and the Lakers hosting the Heat. ESPN was scheduled to broadcast the Lakers vs. Heat game. The network changed its plans Sunday and instead slotted a game against visiting Minnesota Golden State into its national television schedule.
