Why is Kawhi Leonard not playing tonight against Denver Nuggets? Latest update for Clippers star (Jan.8)

Following a two-game stretch, Kawhi Leonard is expected to miss Wednesday's game between the LA Clippers and the Denver Nuggets. Prior to tip-off on Wednesday, Chris B Haynes reported that Kawhi Leonard will be stepping away from the team to be with family who were forced to evacuate because of the California wildfires.

Overnight, the fires wreaked havoc on the greater Los Angeles area, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes. According to reports earlier in the day, both Lakers coach JJ Redick and Steve Kerr had family members forced to evacuate the area due to the fires.

In one of his signature Haynes Briefs, Chris B Haynes reported:

"Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is stepping away from the team. Sources told me he is going to tend to family in the LA area who were forced to evacuate due to the wildfires that's going on over there."

While tonight's game is set to take place in Denver, the wildfires have both impacted the NBA and the NHL, with the Los Angeles Kings postponing tonight's home game against the Calgary Flames.

In the case of the NBA, ESPN's LA studio won't be handling coverage of tonight's Cavaliers-Thunder game, with the network's Bristol, Connecticut studio instead handling coverage of tonight's action.

Looking at how the LA wildfires will impact the Clippers' upcoming schedule after Kawhi Leonard steps away from team

While the LA Clippers' game against the Denver Nuggets tonight will be played on the road, the team is expected to be back at the Intuit Dome on Saturday to play the Charlotte Hornets.

Because of the ongoing wildfires, however, the team could be forced to postpone the game. At the time of publication, the Palisades fire is nearing LAX, which is right next to the Intuit Dome.

Because of that the league will likely be forced to postpone both Saturday's game between the Clippers and the Hornets, as well as the Laker's games against the Hornets on Thursday and the Spurs on Saturday.

As previously mentioned the NHL's Los Angeles Kings have been forced to postpone their upcoming game against the Calgary Flames.

As Kevin McGowan, the Director of Emergency Management for LA County said in a statement on Wednesday, as relayed by USA Today, the county is facing a historic natural disaster.

With a reported 80,000 people already forced to flee the area, and the disaster already impacting Kawhi Leonard, Steve Kerr, and JJ Redick's families, it's safe to say the NBA community will rally around the LA area with support in the days to come.