Los Angeles Lakers fans planning to attend Sunday’s game against the New York Knicks are facing a major logistical hurdle. More than 26,000 runners will take to the streets of LA on March 8. While the much-coveted 2026 Los Angeles Marathon brings some really inspirational runners’ stories to the forefront, many of whom are honoring their respective communities, anticipated road congestion has prompted the Lakers organization to issue an important advisory to fans ahead of the showdown at Crypto.com Arena.

On X, the Purple and Gold wrote that the marathon “will significantly impact traffic and road access throughout the city. Please allow plenty of extra time to arrive for the game.”

The marathon has triggered major street closures across downtown, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Century City, with disruptions beginning as early as 3 am. The race route stretches from Dodger Stadium to the finish line at Santa Monica and Avenue of the Stars and has shut down dozens of streets.

Landmarks such as Capitol Records Tower, Olvera Street, Rodeo Drive, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame are along the affected path. However, officials will reopen roads gradually as runners pass through each section. Authorities are keeping most freeways open, although they have closed some off-ramps, and delays are affecting nearby side streets.

As a result, officials expect congestion to peak around 9 am local time. For smoother travel, drivers can check Caltrans QuickMap for live speeds, cameras, and CHP incident updates. Authorities also advise choosing alternate routes away from the marathon course and planning for festival-related closures in Century City that may continue until evening.

The first LA Marathon was hosted in 1986, and it has since grown into much more than a local event. While the marathon will keep the City of Angels busy on Sunday, the NBA will also take center stage. The home team, the Lakers, will take on the Knicks in a crucial West vs East matchup.

Lakers vs Knicks: Injury updates, starting lineup, and more

The Los Angeles Lakers have three major concerns ahead of Sunday’s game. Forward Maxi Kleber is dealing with a back injury, and the team has listed him as day-to-day. Deandre Ayton’s left knee soreness kept him out of action on Friday against the Indiana Pacers, and the medical team has kept him on the day-to-day list. At the same time, LeBron James’ elbow injury makes his appearance against the Knicks questionable.

On the other hand, the Knicks have to deal with Miles McBride’s absence, as he will be out until the playoffs due to a core muscle injury. Guard Landry Shamet is listed as questionable for Sunday with a neck sprain.

Potential starting five:

This will be the second time these two teams have faced each other. The Knicks won their last game 112-100 earlier this month, and are 18-14 on the road, outscoring opponents by 6.6 points per game. On the other hand, Luka Doncic is coming off a 44-point showdown against the Pacers after a shock loss to the Denver Nuggets. Despite anticipated street congestion in LA, expect the two teams to put up a tough fight for the fans who make it in time for the action.