Basketball fans expecting a full slate of NBA action are quickly learning that Mother Nature has other ideas.
A massive winter storm sweeping across the United States is already disrupting travel, freezing cities, and forcing the league to rethink its schedule in real time.
Denver vs Memphis Becomes the First Weather Casualty
One of the earliest victims of the storm was Sunday’s matchup between the Denver Nuggets and the Memphis Grizzlies.
The NBA officially postponed the game in West Tennessee as snow, ice, and dangerous travel conditions made it impossible to safely proceed.
Dallas Mavericks Stranded Ahead of Milwaukee Clash
While some games were outright postponed, others remain in limbo.
The Dallas Mavericks found themselves stuck on their team plane, still waiting for clearance to take off just hours before their scheduled tip-off against the Milwaukee Bucks.
NBA insider Marc Stein shared the update on X, noting that the Mavericks were still grounded less than six hours before the 6 p.m. CT start time in Milwaukee.
As of now, the team’s ability to make it to the game on time remains uncertain, and further updates are expected.
A Separate Postponement Sparks National Outrage
Not all recent NBA schedule changes have been weather-related.
Saturday’s game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors was postponed following the fatal shooting of protestor Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Video footage from the incident shows the 37-year-old being disarmed and restrained by border patrol agents before being shot multiple times in the chest.
The visuals directly contradict statements from the Department of Homeland Security, which claimed Pretti had “brandished” a weapon or posed an immediate threat.
The shocking footage and public response prompted the league to pause the game out of respect and concern for player and community safety.
A Storm That’s Paralyzing the Country
Beyond basketball, the winter storm has brought widespread disruption across much of the U.S. Sleet, freezing rain, and heavy snow blanketed large regions on Sunday, plunging temperatures below zero and grinding air and road travel to a halt.
Power lines sagged under thick layers of ice, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents in the Southeast without electricity.
Airports, highways, and public transit systems faced delays and shutdowns as conditions worsened.
More Dangerous Days Ahead, Weather Officials Warn
According to the National Weather Service, icy conditions and snowfall are expected to persist into Monday across many areas.
Even after the snow stops, dangerously low temperatures could prolong travel and infrastructure issues for several days.
Forecasters warned of heavy snow stretching from the Ohio Valley into the Northeast, while areas from the Lower Mississippi Valley through the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast faced the threat of what officials described as “catastrophic ice accumulation.”
A Rare Storm With a Massive Reach
Meteorologist Allison Santorelli described the system as unusually expansive, affecting nearly the entire width of the country.
“This storm is unique because of how widespread it is,” she explained.
“It’s hitting areas from New Mexico and Texas all the way up to New England — roughly a 2,000-mile stretch.”
Federal and State Emergency Responses Ramp Up
By Saturday, President Donald Trump had approved emergency declarations for at least a dozen states, with more expected to follow.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that FEMA had already positioned supplies, personnel, and search-and-rescue teams across several impacted regions.
New York Faces Brutal Cold and Historic Snow
New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned residents to prepare for one of the harshest cold snaps and heaviest snowfalls the state has seen in years.
Communities near the Canadian border have already recorded record-breaking temperatures, including minus 34°F in Watertown and a staggering minus 49°F in Copenhagen.
Calling the situation extreme, Hochul said the state is under “an Arctic siege,” adding that the conditions are not just uncomfortable but genuinely dangerous.
What Happens Next for the NBA?
With the storm still unfolding, the NBA could be forced into additional postponements or rescheduling in the coming days.
Teams, players, and fans alike are watching the weather closely, knowing that safety — not the scoreboard — will ultimately decide which games go ahead and which ones have to wait.
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