Lakers returning to play Monday vs. Spurs after 2 postponements because of fires
As of Sunday afternoon, the Lakers’ home game against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday evening at Crypto.com Arena was planned to be played as scheduled after the Lakers’ previous two home games had been postponed because of the wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
The Lakers’ Thursday home game against the Charlotte Hornets and Saturday matchup against the Spurs were postponed, with the league saying that the dates for the rescheduled games will be announced at a later time.
The league also postponed the Clippers’ home game against the Hornets scheduled for Saturday at Intuit Dome because of the fires, which started Tuesday morning while the Lakers and Clippers were both on the road.
The Lakers’ last game was Tuesday evening’s road loss to the Dallas Mavericks while the Clippers lost to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.
The Clippers are also scheduled to host the Miami Heat on Monday.
The Lakers are scheduled to retire Michael Cooper’s No. 21 jersey on Monday, as originally scheduled, when they host the Victor Wembanyama-led Spurs. Cooper was elected and enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last year.
The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association announced after Saturday’s postponements that they’re donating $1 million for immediate relief to the American Red Cross, World Central Kitchen and other organizations to support those affected by the fires and are working with the Lakers and Clippers on ways to support longer-term assistance and rebuilding efforts.
Lakers coach JJ Redick’s rental home in Pacific Palisades was one of the structures lost to the Palisades Fire.
The Lakers will host a donation drive at their upcoming games at Crypto.com Arena this week starting on Monday to support the community and relief efforts in light of the wildfires:
- Monday: vs. Spurs
- Wednesday: vs. Heat
- Friday: vs. Brooklyn Nets
Collection bins will be located outside Crypto.com Arena at the Figueroa, Kobe Bryant and Star Plaza entrances. The collections will start when doors open 1½ hours before tipoff until halftime of each matchup.
The Lakers will also host a drive-thru donation drive from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Tuesday-Saturday at their UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo.
The following food and non-food items are encouraged for donations, with the Lakers’ announcement asking that clothing donations are not made:
- Non-food Items: deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotion, waterless shampoo, phone chargers (battery pack), socks, mittens (gloves), hand warmers, beanies, blankets;
- Food items: peanut and other nut butters, protein-based snacks (bars, peanut butter, protein cookies), crackers, peanut butter crackers, trail mix, fruit snacks, energy bars, pop top tuna, pop top chicken, 100% juice boxes, raisins and other dried fruit, UHT milk, individual cereal boxes, 16-20 oz water, non-carbonated drinks.
SPURS AT LAKERS
When: Monday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV/radio: NBA TV, Spectrum SportsNet/710 AM