Lakers provide first info on possible coronavirus-related ticket refunds

The NBA has tentative plans to resume its season, in one form or another, some time after its self-imposed one-month suspension. In the meantime, the Los Angeles Lakers are giving refunds to the fans that paid for tickets to Thursday’s postponed game against the Houston Rockets.

Additionally, tickets for games beyond March 13 will be honored if the games are rescheduled. Here is the full statement that was released by the team on Thursday:

Thank you for patience as we work with the NBA to continue to assess the ongoing COVID-19 situation.

Due to the NBA suspension of games, tonight’s game against the Houston Rockets and Sunday’s game against the Denver Nuggets are postponed. Tickets for tonight, March 12th, will be refunded at point of purchase.

Beginning March 15th, tickets already purchased for a postponed game will be honored when the game is rescheduled. If games are not played or played in an empty-arena, fans will have the option to receive a credit for a future game or a refund. Notwithstanding, if you have travel or health concerns related to any of the upcoming games your tickets will be refunded at point of purchase.

The fact that the tickets to Thursday’s game are being refunded and the others aren’t suggests that Thursday’s game was actually cancelled, not postponed as was originally thought. That would support Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN’s report that the NBA could return on a “truncated” schedule.

Less games on the regular season schedule wouldn’t hurt the Lakers much, beyond the fact that it would limited their opportunities to catch the Milwaukee Bucks for the best record in the NBA and, coincidentally, home court in a potential NBA Finals series. However, even if the Lakers do play the remaining 19 games on their regular season schedule, the chances of the them closing the three-game gap between them and the Bucks are slim, especially since Giannis Antetokounmpo will likely be healthy by the time games resume.

The real teams that would be affected by a shortened schedule are the teams that are fighting for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, such as the Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings. Only 3.5 games separate the No. 11 seed Kings from the No. 8 seed Grizzlies.

Whatever the plan is, we won’t know until at least another month, so sit tight, and stay safe out there. We’ll do our best to keep you posted as updates come in.

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