A potentially catastrophic winter storm has caused commotion throughout parts of the country and disrupted the NBA regular-season schedule as Southern states prepare for ice conditions, while Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states expect heavy snow.
On Sunday, Jan. 25, the NBA postponed the Nuggets at Grizzlies game as well as the Mavericks at Bucks – the former due to dangerous conditions in Memphis and the latter because the Mavericks’ team plane was stuck on the tarmac and unable to depart Dallas.
Winter Storm Fern, as named by The Weather Channel, could cause power outages, tree damage and make travel plans more dangerous. States within the southern Rockies, the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma, the Ohio Valley and Northeast will likely pick up at least six inches of snow through Monday, the Weather Channel forecasted. A number of states in the South, including North Carolina, could be hit by a dangerous ice storm.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Milwaukee Bucks
The Dallas Mavericks are the latest NBA team affected by the crippling winter storm sweeping through parts of the country.
The NBA has postponed the Sunday, Jan. 25 matchup between the Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum due to inclement weather, the league announced in a statement.
The Mavs were still awaiting takeoff on the plane, stranded on the tarmac in Dallas as of 3 p.m. CT for their originally scheduled 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) tip-off in Milwaukee. Dallas Hoops Journal’s Grant Afseth reported the start time had already been pushed back by an hour to 8 p.m. (7 p.m. CT) before the NBA postponed the game.
A makeup date has not yet been announced. — Andrés Soto
Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies
With the winter storm making travel very difficult and dangerous in the Memphis area, the NBA has announced that the game between the Grizzlies and Nuggets on Sunday, Jan. 25, has been postponed as well.
The date for the rescheduling has yet to be announced.
The game was originally supposed to start at 2:30 CT (local time), but the postponement came less than three hours before tip-off.
The Grizzlies next game is set for Monday, Jan. 26, on the road against the Houston Rockets. Although Houston has also been affected by the storm, that game’s timeline has not been altered yet.
Times changed for Monday’s games
Following the postponement of two games scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 25, the NBA has also announced the tip-off times for two games scheduled for Monday, Jan. 25 have been moved up due to the winter storm which continues to pummel large swaths of the country.
The Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks game, originally scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET Monday night, will now tip off at 1:30 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia 76ers at Charlotte Hornets game, originally scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, will now tip off at 3 p.m. ET.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers
With the Wizards-Hornets game in Charlotte being rescheduled to an earlier start time, many look at the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers Saturday evening game and wonder if it’ll be postponed or rescheduled as well.
The Mavericks-Lakers game is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. local) Saturday at American Airline Center in Dallas.
As of now, the game time remains intact, however the Mavericks are keeping an eye out for the weather in case they need to make arrangements.
In an post on social media, the Mavericks said they are ‘closely monitoring’ the weather conditions leading up to the Jan. 24 game and will take ‘all necessary precautions’ to ensure a safe and comfortable experience.
‘Fans are encouraged to plan ahead allow extra travel time, and stay tuned to official Dallas Mavericks channels for real-time updates,’ the X post read. ‘The Mavericks will provide an additional update on Saturday should conditions change or further operational adjustments be required.’
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers
Despite threats of severe winter weather, the NBA Finals rematch between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City is still on track and time has not been moved, according to The Oklahoman.
The game is set to tip off at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT).
Washington Wizards vs. Charlotte Hornets
The NBA announced Thursday that the Jan. 24 regular-season matchup between the Washington Wizards and the Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte, North Carolina was moved to the early afternoon due to severe winter storm warnings in the area.
Their game was originally supposed to tip-off at 6 p.m. ET Saturday, however the game was moved up six hours and will now tip-off time at noon ET because of the impending weather.
NBA canceled games
A postponed game wouldn’t be uncharted territory for the NBA.
Earlier this month, a scheduled Jan. 8 contest between the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat at United Center in Chicago was postponed ‘due to moisture on the floor, rendering the court unplayable,’ the NBA said in a statement.
Humidity from a warm and rainy Chicago day caused excessive condensation leading to a slippery court.
The Bulls-Heat game was rescheduled for Jan. 29.
(This story has been updated with new information.)