Vegas Summer season League postponed by 7.1 quake
LAS VEGAS — An earthquake that struck in Southern California compelled the postponement of the late video games within the Las Vegas Summer season League on Friday night time, together with the NBA debuts for No. 1 decide Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans and No. three decide RJ Barrett of the New York Knicks.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres performed by the earthquake throughout their recreation at Dodger Stadium, although a WNBA recreation in Las Vegas additionally was stopped.
Estimates by the U.S. Geological Survey say a 7.1 magnitude quake hit in Southern California at eight:19 p.m. PT. The quake had been downgraded to six.9 earlier than seismologists restored the unique magnitude. The quake was felt all the way in which in Las Vegas through the fourth quarter of the Pelicans-Knicks recreation contained in the Thomas & Mack Middle.
The overhead scoreboard within the area was swaying, and officers elected to cease the sport and have the groups go away the ground whereas gauging if it was protected to proceed. After a couple of 15-minute delay, the choice was made to droop the sport with the Pelicans main 80-74. The NBA introduced later Friday that the sport wouldn’t be resumed. The league additionally canceled the sport involving the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets, which was to have been performed after the Knicks-Pelicans.
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“I used to be bringing the ball up, it felt like somebody was pushing my hip, like I type of leaned this manner, and I used to be like, ‘Oh, my gosh, what’s going on?'” New Orleans guard Frank Jackson mentioned. “After which I simply noticed every little thing shaking.”
Stated New Orleans’ Christian Wooden, who performed collegiately at UNLV: “I have been part of earthquakes, however nothing whereas taking part in basketball. It was cool, however I do not need to be part of it anymore.”
A recreation involving the Orlando Magic and the San Antonio Spurs contained in the smaller Cox Pavilion, which is hooked up to the Thomas & Mack Middle, initially continued directly as a result of that fitness center lacks an overhead scoreboard. The league in the end determined to cancel that recreation after the third interval, nonetheless, for “precautionary causes.”
“Security comes first, second, third,” NBA summer season league govt director Warren LeGarie mentioned.
Friday night time’s quake was centered 11 miles from Ridgecrest, California, a Mojave Desert city about 150 miles (240 kilometers) from Los Angeles. The identical space was jolted by a 6.four quake a day earlier.
Friday’s quake was felt in downtown Los Angeles as a rolling movement that appeared to final at the least a half-minute. It hit Dodger Stadium within the fourth inning when Dodgers second baseman Enrique Hernandez was batting. It did not seem to have an effect on him or Padres pitcher Eric Lauer, and the sport continued with out disruption.
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw instructed reporters afterward that he did not really feel the quake.
“All people’s telling me about it,” he mentioned. “I used to be beneath within the tunnel, and the gang’s type of going loopy, however I had no concept what was happening till someone instructed me.”
Nevertheless, it was apparent to viewers of the SportsNet LA broadcast when the TV image started bouncing up and down.
There was no announcement by the stadium’s public deal with announcer. Some followers within the higher decks appeared to depart their seats and transfer to a concourse on the high of the stadium. The press field lurched for about 20 seconds.
Additionally within the Las Vegas space, a WNBA recreation between the Mystics and Aces on the Mandalay Bay Resort was suspended at halftime due to the quake.
The Related Press contributed to this report.