The Lakers and the Clippers will play again today despite the fires in Los Angeles

The NBA announced that, after postponing some games on Saturday due to the wildfires in the Los Angeles area, the scheduled matches for Monday between Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs at the Crypto.com Arena, and between Los Angeles Clippers and the Miami Heat at the Intuit Dome will proceed as planned. The affected games from Saturday, where the Spurs would face the Lakers and the Hornets would play against the Clippers, will be rescheduled for later dates.

Tyronn Lue, the Clippers' coach, addressed the decision to play on Monday: "It's out of my control. I think the NBA has a good handle on what's happening and what needs to be done. They make the decisions; they know we are going through a tough time in California, and they understand that. Hopefully, we can bring some joy back with the game's return tomorrow and promote a bit of unity. Try to put smiles on people's faces in these challenging times."

The situation in Los Angeles remains alarming, with around 105,000 people under mandatory evacuation orders due to several fires that have resulted in the death of at least 16 individuals. The Palisades fire is now the most destructive in the city's history, having destroyed over 5,600 structures in 24,000 acres. JJ Redick, the Lakers' coach, revealed that he lost his home in this disaster.

The NBA also reported that they will donate one million dollars for immediate assistance to organizations such as the American Red Cross and World Central Kitchen, among others. Additionally, the Lakers will organize a collection at upcoming home games, starting on Monday, to support the efforts of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Fans are invited to bring unused and unopened items to contribute.

Chris Paul, the Spurs' point guard and a Los Angeles resident, expressed his concern after his team's defeat on Wednesday against the Bucks in Milwaukee. He recounted that his family had to evacuate their home on Tuesday. "It's truly terrifying what's happening. I'm sending lots of love and prayers to some of my closest friends and family who have lost everything," said Paul.

On the other hand, Nicolas Batum, a player for the Clippers, described the anxiety his team has felt in recent days, especially while playing against the Nuggets in Denver. "That game in Denver was weird all day," Batum commented. "I was on the phone with my family all day. I didn't sleep that night. I think I stopped checking my phone three minutes before the game. I checked at halftime, something I never do, just to make sure my wife and kids were okay."

The Spurs arrived in Santa Monica early on Thursday after flying from Milwaukee following their game. However, as a precautionary measure, the team decided to move to a hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los Lakers y los Clippers volverán a jugar hoy pese a los incendios de Los Ángeles