The NBA intends to move forward with both of the games scheduled to be played in Los Angeles on Monday, according to various reports.
The Clippers have been informed by the league that their game vs. the Heat at Intuit Dome remains on track, per Mark Medina of Sportskeeda (Twitter link), while the Spurs were told by the league that they’re still scheduled to face the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, according to Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News (Twitter link).
Those plans would obviously be subject to change depending on what happens with the wildfires in the Los Angeles area in the next 24 hours, but for now the NBA is confident that the games won’t divert emergency resources from the wildfire response efforts, as Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times tweets.
Here’s more from around the Pacific Division:
- Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox is available to play on Sunday against Chicago, tweets Chris Biderman of The Sacramento Bee. Fox, who last suited up on January 3, rejoins a red-hot Sacramento squad that has won six straight games in total, including the past three without him. James Ham of The Kings Beat considers whether the team’s recent run of success is sustainable.
- The Kings are spending far less time scrimmaging so far under new head coach Doug Christie, which has been well received by the players, Biderman writes for the Sacramento Bee. “Talking to some of the guys who play heavier minutes, they definitely feel more fresh to start games,” Kings sharpshooter Kevin Huerter said. “I think even mentally, just the grind of the season, we’re already in January, and you get to this point in the season, you play a lot of games. As much as it’s a physical grind, it’s a mental grind. Being halfway there and needing every win, in some ways we pump the brakes a little bit, but still trusting us to get our work in.”
- After missing games on Thursday and Friday for personal reasons, Andrew Wiggins will be back in action for the Warriors on Monday in Toronto, head coach Steve Kerr told reporters today (Twitter link via Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN). Stephen Curry and Draymond Green practiced on Sunday and are also set to return on Monday after sitting out Friday, while Gary Payton II (calf strain) is listed as questionable to play for the first time since Christmas Day. Brandin Podziemski (right abdominal injury) will remain out, Kerr said.
- Suns forward Royce O’Neale (left ankle sprain) appears on track to return from a six-game absence on Sunday vs. Charlotte. He has been upgraded to probable, tweets Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic.