DALLAS — For the second time in 2021, the NBA has postponed a Mavericks game.
The latest decision, however, isn’t coronavirus pandemic-related.
The Mavericks will not play the Pistons on Wednesday night because of a “government shutdown of American Airlines Center” after this week’s historic snowstorm and ongoing power outages across Texas, the NBA announced Tuesday afternoon.
The Mavericks also did not practice or hold their scheduled media availability Tuesday afternoon because their Design District facility was without power.
The NBA will reschedule Mavericks-Pistons at a later date.
The official decision came hours after the Stars, who also play in AAC, postponed their second consecutive home game, Tuesday night against the Predators. The Stars’ first postponed their Monday night game about an hour before puck drop at the request of Mayor Eric Johnson.
The AAC is on the critical infrastructure grid that also powers the convention center, which is serving as an emergency weather shelter, and local hospitals, according to a spokesman for Mayor Johnson.
The timing of the NBA’s announcement — more than a day before the scheduled 8 p.m. tipoff — ensured the Pistons wouldn’t travel to Dallas. Detroit was scheduled to play the Spurs on Tuesday, but the game was also postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak within San Antonio’s team.
Already nearly a year into a historic pandemic that’s upended global health, economics and daily life, the severe snowstorm and ensuing freezing temperatures have further strained state resources.
Hundreds of thousands of North Texans have lost power, and the local weather forecast calls for more snow Wednesday.
In recent history, the Mavericks have ensured just two one-off game postponements:
Jan. 11 of this season against the Pelicans as Dallas conducted contact tracing amid a COVID-19 outbreak.
Aug. 27, 2020, in their first-round playoff series against the Clippers at the Disney World bubble as NBA players protested the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
Though the Mavericks’ February homestand ended prematurely Tuesday, the severe winter weather could wreak more havoc on their schedule elsewhere in Texas this week.
The Mavericks are scheduled to fly Thursday to Houston to play the Rockets on Friday night.
The Rockets have been on an East Coast road trip since Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has deployed the National Guard across the state and President Joe Biden issued an emergency declaration for Texas to provide federal aid.
The latest disruption in the Mavericks’ season comes just as they appeared recovered and rejuvenated from the four-player COVID-19 outbreak that dismantled their rotation for much of January.
The Mavericks have won five of their last seven games. After a three-point loss to Portland Sunday night, coach Rick Carlisle looked forward to a rare two days off between games — extra time for rest Monday and what would’ve been a defense-focused practice Tuesday.
Instead, at least one player was mired in the electricity crisis engulfing much of the state.
In response to a tweet asking about whether Texas residents had power, starting wing Josh Richardson gave a simple answer:
“No.”
