With the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic causing an interruption in the NBA season and delaying the start of the 2020 MLB campaign, sports have overlapped this fall and no more was that true than Wednesday night for the Los Angeles Dodgers and L.A. Lakers.
Last week, the Lakers tipped off Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat. The Lakers are in the Finals for the first time since 2010, when they completed back-to-back championship runs.
Roughly an hour after the Lakers and Heat began their matchup, Walker Buehler threw the first pitch at Dodger Stadium in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series between the Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers.
“It’s great for this city. The city needs it,” manager Dave Roberts said of the Dodgers and Lakers playing marquee games on the same night. “If you look at baseball, eight games today, our country needs it. It’s very therapeutic, it’s a diversion.
“As far as specifically to the city of L.A., the split screens, last channel flash back, that’s going to be happening a lot. It’s fun for our fans. The city is big enough for all of us. It’s going to be a fun night. As an L.A. sports fan, it’s a perfect night, I’m assuming.”
Excitement with the Dodgers and Lakers playing meaningful playoff games gave way to celebration as each came away victorious. That was again the case Tuesday night, with the Lakers winning Game 4 and the Dodgers starting the National League Division Series on a positive note.
With the Finals going to a Game 5 on Friday, it will come the same night as Game 4 of the NLDS, if that is necessary. Looking further into October, if the Heat force the Lakers to a Game 7, that would be played the same night as Game 2 of the NL Championship Series.
Dodgers honor Kobe
On Aug. 23 — what would have been Kobe Bryant’s 42nd birthday, the Dodgers held a pregame ceremony to honor the Lakers legend and his daughter Gianna. Vin Scully narrated a video to remember Kobe and Gianna, and all Dodgers players and coaches wore one of Bryant’s jerseys.
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