Lakers-Clippers first non-weather NBA postponement since the Boston Marathon bombings

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In the aftermath of the death of Kobe Bryant, the NBA has made the decision to postpone the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers game that had been scheduled for Tuesday night.

The league stated in an official press release that the decision was made "out of respect" for the Lakers as they "deeply grieve" the loss of Bryant and his daughter, Gianna.

Postponing the game is absolutely a sensible decision, but it is rare for the league to do so. As ESPN's Ramona Shelburne pointed out on Twitter, this is the first time that an NBA game had been cancelled or postponed under such circumstances since the Boston Marathon Bombings of 2013.

The NBA has also postponed or cancelled games in the past due to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., the Columbine High School massacre, and the 1992 Los Angeles riots. But it's not a common occurrance for games to be cancelled for non-weather-related reasons, so this is notable.

Because it was so late in the season, that 2013 Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers game was cancelled altogether, as it had no bearing on the final standings in the Eastern Conference.

But the Lakers-Clippers game will be made up at a later date. Surely, the battle for L.A. will contain some tribute to Bryant as they celebrate the life of one of the NBA's greatest.

Don't miss NBC Sports Boston's coverage of Celtics-Heat, which begins Tuesday at 7 p.m. with Celtics Pregame Live. You can also stream it on the MyTeams App.

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