NBA postpones Nuggets-Grizzlies, Mavericks-Bucks due to winter storm
The relentless grip of Winter Storm Fern has extended its reach to the National Basketball Association, forcing the league to postpone two marquee Sunday matchups as hazardous weather conditions paralyzed travel hubs across the South and Midwest. The league office officially announced that the Denver Nuggets’ visit to the Memphis Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks’ road clash with the Milwaukee Bucks have been called off, citing player safety and logistical impossibilities.
In Tennessee, a severe mixture of sleet and freezing rain rendered local roads impassable, prompting officials to urge residents to shelter in place. The Grizzlies, set to host the Nuggets at FedExForum, saw their contest scrapped just hours before tip-off as the region grappled with widespread power outages and dangerous driving conditions. The decision was made to prevent fans, arena staff, and team personnel from braving the elements, marking the first weather-related stoppage for Memphis this season.
The situation was equally chaotic in North Texas, where the Mavericks found themselves grounded. Fresh off a hard-fought 116-110 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, Dallas attempted to depart for Milwaukee on Sunday morning. However, reports indicate the team sat stranded on the tarmac at the airport for over four hours. Despite the efforts of de-icing crews, freezing temperatures and ice accumulation ultimately prevented the charter flight from taking off.
While the Bucks were left waiting at Fiserv Forum, the organization pivoted to a charitable audible, donating the unused game-day food supply to local Milwaukee shelters—a silver lining in a frozen weekend.
These postponements add a layer of complexity to an already condensed second-half schedule. With the All-Star break approaching, the league faces a logistical puzzle to reschedule these fixtures. Early speculation points to February 19 as a potential makeup date, though no official confirmation has been released. For now, the NBA remains at the mercy of the forecast, serving as a stark reminder that while teams can beat the buzzer, they cannot beat the weather.
In Tennessee, a severe mixture of sleet and freezing rain rendered local roads impassable, prompting officials to urge residents to shelter in place. The Grizzlies, set to host the Nuggets at FedExForum, saw their contest scrapped just hours before tip-off as the region grappled with widespread power outages and dangerous driving conditions. The decision was made to prevent fans, arena staff, and team personnel from braving the elements, marking the first weather-related stoppage for Memphis this season.
The situation was equally chaotic in North Texas, where the Mavericks found themselves grounded. Fresh off a hard-fought 116-110 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, Dallas attempted to depart for Milwaukee on Sunday morning. However, reports indicate the team sat stranded on the tarmac at the airport for over four hours. Despite the efforts of de-icing crews, freezing temperatures and ice accumulation ultimately prevented the charter flight from taking off.
While the Bucks were left waiting at Fiserv Forum, the organization pivoted to a charitable audible, donating the unused game-day food supply to local Milwaukee shelters—a silver lining in a frozen weekend.
These postponements add a layer of complexity to an already condensed second-half schedule. With the All-Star break approaching, the league faces a logistical puzzle to reschedule these fixtures. Early speculation points to February 19 as a potential makeup date, though no official confirmation has been released. For now, the NBA remains at the mercy of the forecast, serving as a stark reminder that while teams can beat the buzzer, they cannot beat the weather.
