The Dallas Mavericks' team plane did not get off the tarmac at Love Field, and a decision has been made on Sunday's game at the Milwaukee Bucks.
The winter storm that has affected much of the southern United States with snow, sleet and freezing temperatures has now officially impacted the Dallas Mavericks' schedule.
Their most recent game took place as scheduled on Saturday night when Dallas hosted Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers, and despite potentially dangerous road conditions, American Airlines Center was nearly sold out with fans anticipating the All-Star Doncic's second return to Dallas since his trade to Los Angeles last year.
The problems began to arise for the Mavs' travel plans after the game.
Multiple reports indicated that the team hoped to fly to Milwaukee late Saturday night for Sunday's back-half of a back-to-back against the Bucks, but plans went awry due to the inclement weather.
The Mavericks then planned on departing Love Field airport in Dallas on Sunday after staying at a hotel in downtown near the AAC. An initial take-off time was reported for 11:30 a.m. CST.
Hours later, the team remained stuck on the tarmac as there were issues with de-icing the aircraft and ensuring the airstrip was clear of ice. The trip to Milwaukee was expected to take about two and a half hours, which then began to cause concerns about the game's scheduled 6 p.m. CST tip-off time at Fiserv Forum.
Our own Grant Afseth first reported that the game had first been pushed back an hour to 7 p.m. CST, but then Dallas Morning News' Brad Townsend confirmed that the team will not fly to Milwaukee at all on Sunday.
Said NBA insider Marc Stein: "The Mavericks, I'm told, remain on their team plane as the league office works out whether to try to move this soon-to-be postponed game to Monday [Jan. 26] - which would create a back-to-back for the Bucks - or move it to the other side of the All-Star break."
Townsend says one option for a makeup date is Feb. 19, which would shorten Dallas' All-Star break and create a road back-to-back. The Mavs are scheduled for a game on Feb. 20 at the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Says Townsend: "If details can be worked out, a quick makeup date on Monday ... however, [it] would assume the Mavs can get out of Dallas later today or tomorrow."
Below is the statement released by the NBA on Sunday at 2:40 p.m. CST:
Earlier in the day, the league made a similar decision to postpone the Denver Nuggets at Memphis Grizzles game to set to be played at FedExForum on Sunday due to incelment weather in the Memphis area.
Now, the same has occurred for Mavs-Bucks.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
