The NBA has added Friday night’s game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers as the late game for a doubleheader on ESPN that will be kicked off by the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks.
Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicledetailed the changes to the schedule:
Rockets game Friday against the Mavericks moved up to a 6:30 p.m. tip as the first game of an ESPN double-header. Lakers-Trail Blazers made the late game.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) January 29, 2020
The addition of Lakers-Trail Blazers comes after the postponement of Tuesday’s game between the Lakers and Clippers in the wake of the tragic death of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant as well as his daughter Gianna and seven others in a helicopter crash on Sunday morning. The Lakers and Clippers had initially been scheduled to play on national television.
In fact, L.A.’s game against Portland will be the team’s first since the loss of Bryant. Kobe’s death has rocked the entire NBA community, including numerous members of the Lakers organization.
LeBron James was visibly emotional exiting the team plane as the Lakers flew home from Philadelphia on Sunday. Quinn Cook is changing his number from 2 to 28 in honor of Kobe and Gianna Bryant.
Dave McMenamin of ESPN also reported Lakers players and coaches came together on Tuesday to share stories about Bryant in a celebration of life:
Following a light workout and optional shootaround, the team gathered for a luncheon and an impromptu story session broke out, sources told ESPN, with players and staffers — from ownership on down in attendance — taking turns retelling their favorite Bryant memories.
Kobe will undoubtedly be on the mind of many on the floor and in attendance as the Lakers host the Trail Blazers on Friday night at Staples Center. Catch the action on ESPN.
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