Dangerous winter weather has forced the NBA to postpone Saturday’s game between the Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks. The league made the call to keep players, fans, and staff safe as icy conditions grip the Atlanta area.
It’s been a rough few days in Atlanta. A nasty winter storm dropped snow and ice across the city on Friday, leaving more than 110,000 residents without power as falling trees knocked down power lines.
Downtown Atlanta got hit with 2-6 inches of snow, prompting Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to declare a state of emergency. With temperatures expected to plunge again Saturday night, officials are worried about roads refreezing.
This isn’t just an Atlanta problem. The Weather Channel reports this winter storm has swept through the Southeast, affecting 25 states with a brutal mix of cold, snow, and ice.
The NBA hasn’t announced when they’ll reschedule the game yet.
It’s been a tough week for the league’s schedule makers. They just had to postpone two games in Los Angeles too – both the Lakers and Clippers had their Saturday home games called off because of the wildfires tearing through Southern California.
The Lakers were supposed to host San Antonio, while the Clippers were set to play Charlotte. The Lakers also missed their Thursday game against the Hornets, and none of these games have new dates yet.
The league explained they’re working closely with officials in Los Angeles and Inglewood, making sure no resources get pulled away from fighting the fires.
Looking ahead, both teams will be back in action soon. The Rockets (25-12) will host Memphis on Monday before heading west for a three-game road trip. The Hawks (19-19) will welcome Phoenix on Tuesday, then hit the road for games against:
– Chicago Bulls (Jan. 15)
– Boston Celtics (Jan. 18)
– New York Knicks (Jan. 20)
