- HOME <> NBA History <> Advertise <> About US <> Write for us <> Contact Us! -

MENU
> HOME
> General NBA info
> Awards
> Records
> Stats
> Player Facts
> Team Facts
> Other Leagues
> Contact us!


NBA Games That Were Cancelled or Postponed

A historical record of NBA games that were cancelled, postponed, delayed or rescheduled because of national tragedies, civil unrest, emergencies, weather, arena problems and other unusual circumstances.

1963 1968 1989 1992 1999 2001 2004 2013 2020 Kobe COVID-19 Jacob Blake 2025
Assassination of President John F. Kennedy 11/22/1963
Date Game Result
11/22/63 NY at Baltimore Postponed to 1/23/64
11/22/63 Boston at Philly Postponed to 3/3/64
11/22/63 LA at San Francisco Postponed to 1/10/64
Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 4/4/1968
Date Game Result
4/7/68 Philly at Boston Postponed to 4/10/68
4/7/68 San Francisco at LA Postponed to 4/10/68
4/10/68 Boston at Philly Postponed to 4/11/68
4/10/68 LA at San Francisco Postponed to 4/11/68
Miami Riots 1/17/1989
Date Game Result
1/17/89 Phoenix at Miami Postponed to 4/19/89
1992 Los Angeles Riots (a/k/a Rodney King Riots) 4/29/92 - 5/4/92
Date Game Result
4/30/92 Utah at LA Clippers Postponed to 5/3/92 and moved to Anaheim Convention Center
5/1/92 Portland at LA Lakers Postponed to 5/3/92 and moved to UNLV
1999 Leaky Roof in Salt Lake City 11/15/1999
Date Game Result
11/15/1999 San Antonio at Utah Game was delayed by 3 hours
Columbine High School Massacre 4/20/99
Date Game Result
4/20/99 Portland at Denver Postponed to 5/2/99
September 11th Terrorist Attacks 9/11/01
Date Game Result
10/11/01 Minnesota vs. Scavolini Pesaro Cancelled prior to tip-off
10/11/01 Toronto vs. Telekom Baskets Bonn Cancelled prior to tip-off
10/13/01 Toronto vs. Minnesota Cancelled prior to tip-off
10/13/01 Golden State vs. LA Lakers Cancelled prior to tip-off
10/14/01 LA Lakers vs. Golden State Cancelled prior to tip-off
Games where all-preseason games
Beslan School Siego 9/1/04-9/3/04
Date Game Result
9/30/04 Utah Jazz at CSKA Moscow Cancelled prior to tip-off
Game was a preseason game and was cancelled at the behest of the Department of State.
Pacers-Pistons Brawl (a/k/a Malice at the Palace) 11/19/04
Date Game Result
11/19/04 Indiana at Detroit Game cancelled with 45 seconds remaining in regulation
Boston Marathon Bombing 4/15/13
Date Game Result
4/15/13 Pacers at Boston Game cancelled prior to tip-off
Death of Kobe Bryant 1/26/20
Date Game Result
1/28/20 Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers Game rescheduled to 4/9/20
COVID-19
Date Game / Event Result
3/11/20 Jazz at Thunder Game cancelled at tip off
3/11/20 Raptors at Kings Game cancelled at tip off
3/11/20 The NBA Postponed the entire remaining schedule of the 19/20 season. Games were restarted with only the playoff eligible and playoff fighting teams on 7/31/20
Jacob Blake Shooting
Date Game Result / Note
8/26/20 Bucks vs Magic Bucks refused to come out of the locker room
8/26/20 Lakers vs Blazers  
8/27/20 Clippers vs Mavs  
8/27/20 Jazz vs Nuggets  
8/27/20 Rockets vs Thunder  
All Teams and players cancelled the playoff games that were planned in response to the police shooting of a Jacob Blake in Wisconsin.
COVID-19
Date Game Result
12/23/20 Rockets vs Thunder  
Los Angeles Wildfires
Date Game Result
1/9/2025 Hornets at Lakers Game will be rescheduled
Back to Top