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NBA postpones Lakers-Clippers matchup

Rachel Luna / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty

A day after the death of Kobe Bryant, the NBA announced that Tuesday's matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers has been postponed.

The NBA made the decision out of respect for the Lakers, who are grieving the loss of Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. They were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash Sunday.

Over the past several hours, the NBA spoke with both clubs before ultimately honoring the Lakers' request to cancel Tuesday's game, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

None of the teams which played Sunday had requested that their games be canceled, league sources told Marc Stein of The New York Times.

"The Los Angeles Lakers would like to thank all of you for the tremendous outpouring of support and condolences," the team said in a statement. "This is a very difficult time for all of us. We continue to support the Bryant family and will share more information as it is available."

The Lakers have brought in grief counselors who are available in both group and one-on-one sessions, a source told ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

Since Bryant's passing, current and former Lakers have taken to social media to pay their respects to the franchise icon.

The game will be rescheduled at a later date. The last time an NBA matchup was canceled due to tragic circumstances was in 2013 after the Boston Marathon bombings, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.

The Lakers' next game at the Staples Center is scheduled for Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers.

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