In a shocking turn of events, the highly anticipated home games for both the Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Clippers have been postponed on Saturday due to the devastating fires ravaging the greater Los Angeles area.
The Lakers were poised to face off against the San Antonio Spurs at the Crypto.com Center in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, while the Clippers were gearing up to take on the Charlotte Hornets at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
The Lakers had already faced a postponement earlier in the week when their game against the Hornets was called off. Meanwhile, the Clippers had just returned from a two-game road trip, only to be met with more challenges upon their homecoming.
Heartbreak hit close to home for Lakers head coach JJ Redick, as he and his family tragically lost their home to the destructive Palisades Fire. Despite the devastating loss, Redick led his team through practice on Friday and expressed a strong desire to play on Saturday.
“We’re prepared for whatever tomorrow,” Redick stated. “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. If we can play, we’ll play.”
The Clippers also faced hardships as star player Kawhi Leonard was excused from the team earlier in the week to assist his family in evacuating their home. Leonard, a key player for the Clippers, rejoined the team on Friday as they navigated through the challenges posed by the fires.
Looking ahead, both the Lakers and Clippers have home games scheduled for Monday, with the Lakers set to take on the Spurs once again and the Clippers facing off against the Miami Heat.
As the city of Los Angeles continues to grapple with the devastation caused by the fires, the basketball community stands in solidarity with those affected and hopes for a swift recovery for all involved.
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