The Dallas Mavericks announced that they will still host the Los Angeles Lakers for Saturday’s matchup amid severe weather conditions.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin shared the statement on X.
“The Dallas Mavericks are closely monitoring the weather conditions this weekend and will take all necessary precautions to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for fans, staff, and players when Dallas hosts the Los Angeles Lakers Saturday night.
“The game will be played as scheduled at 7:30 PM CT at American Airlines Center. Fans are encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, and stay tuned to official Dallas Mavericks channels for real-time updates. The North and North Platinum Entrances will be closed for Saturday’s game. All other public entrances will remain open. The Mavericks will provide an additional update on Saturday should conditions change or further operational adjustments be required. We appreciate the cooperation and flexibility of fans and look forward to welcoming everyone to American Airlines Center.”
According to the National Weather Service, there is a winter storm warning in effect from 6 PM local time Friday to noon Sunday.
The Mavericks will host the Lakers on Saturday for the first time this season. The game will be nationally televised on ABC. So far, the Lakers lead the season series 1-0.
The Lakers defeated Dallas in a contest in late November in Los Angeles. L.A. is the favorite in this matchup according to ESPN Analytics with a 56.9 percent chance to come out on top.
This will be the Lakers’ third road game of eight in their annual Grammy road trip. The Lakers currently sit with a 26-17 record, which is good for the sixth seed in the loaded Western Conference. As for the Mavericks, they hold a 19-26 record, which is good for the 12th seed.
Dallas will look to keep their three-game home streak alive. They hold an 11-18 record against Western Conference opponents compared to the Lakers’ 19-12 record against West opponents.
Will Luka Doncic's Return to Dallas Spark Another Big Performance?
Lakers superstar guard Luka Doncic will return to the city and arena he once called home. This will be Doncic’s second time playing against his former team in Dallas. Emotions were high in his initial return, and it is safe to say that will be the case on Saturday.
In that contest in early April 2025, Doncic had arguably his best game of the season, recording 45 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the 112-97 victory.
The Lakers have played poor basketball as of late, and they’ll look to get back on track against Doncic’s old team.
Newsweek