Winter weather is expected to descend upon North Texas this weekend, which could disrupt the plans of incoming and outgoing travelers.
Luka Doncic is among that group of expected visitors with his Los Angeles Lakers scheduled to play against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night — his second game at American Airlines Center since he was traded last season.
The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Watch for this weekend in Dallas-Fort Worth that could include snow, ice and freezing temperatures. Freezing precipitation is expected to begin Friday afternoon and could continue through Saturday night.
Multiple airlines have issued advisories to prepare air travelers for the potential impact of the inclement weather. The Lakers will play in Inglewood, Calif., against the LA Clippers on Thursday night before Saturday’s game against the Mavericks, but it’s unclear if they will fly to Dallas immediately following that game or if they plan to wait until Friday.
Mavericks
Is there any scenario in which the NBA would postpone the game?
The Mavericks are expected to make every effort to play on Saturday. Coach Jason Kidd was asked about the possibility of a postponement following Wednesday’s light practice, but didn’t want to speak for the league.
“Oh yeah, that’s out of my pay grade,” Kidd said. “We show up rain or shine. It snows on the East Coast. I don’t see them postponing.”
It would be difficult to postpone a game that’s been scheduled since August, especially one as high profile as Saturday’s. Doncic’s controversial trade from the Mavericks instantly makes the matchup one of the most anticipated games of the season.
The NBA recently postponed a game between the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat at United Center because moisture found on the floor rendered the court unplayable.
Inclement weather is a common reason the NBA would postpone a game, along with health emergencies (such as during the Covid-19 pandemic) and civil unrest. The league postponed and rescheduled 10 games last season because of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles and a severe winter storm in Atlanta.
The NBA postponed a Mavericks game against the Detroit Pistons on Feb. 16, 2021, after a historic snowstorm in Dallas caused a government shutdown of American Airlines Center.
“Mother Nature is going to do what she does,” Kidd said. “We have a job to do and that’s to play the games when they’re scheduled, unless told otherwise.”
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Keep track of weekend sporting events impacted by winter storm hitting North Texas
With inclement weather expected, some sporting events in Dallas-Fort Worth have been canceled.
Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.