NBA postpones 5 games due to ongoing COVID-19 issues
COVID-19 is still wreaking havoc on professional basketball. On Sunday, the NBA announced the postponement of five games due to ongoing issues with COVID-19.
Sunday:
Denver Nuggets at Brooklyn Nets
Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks
New Orleans Pelicans at Philadelphia 76ers
Monday:
Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors
Tuesday:
Washington Wizards at Brooklyn Nets
None of those games have been rescheduled yet.
Sixers, Nets having trouble fielding teams
The Nets have 10 players in the NBA's health and safety protocols, and were having trouble finding the eight players the NBA requires to play. The Nets have two more games in the coming week that could be affected. They're supposed to fly to Oregon to play the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, and then scoot down the coast to play the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas. As of Sunday, those games are on track to be played.
The Sixers don't have as many players in the protocol as the Nets, but they're still having trouble finding eight players. Several players reportedly entered the protocol Sunday, and paired with key player injuries and issues with G-League replacements, they were shorthanded.
The NBA is still considering the fate of the Sixers-Pelicans game, but Philadelphia is struggling to deliver eight available players tonight, sources tell ESPN. G-League players in Las Vegas for the Showcase has complicated the process of getting call-ups into town quickly. https://t.co/YXWgwAQwCb
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 19, 2021
Cavaliers have team outbreak, Trae Young in protocol
Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young entered the NBA's health and safety protocol Sunday, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Atlanta Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young has entered the league’s Covid protocols, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 19, 2021
Young would be the only Hawks player in the health and safety protocols, and he would've miss Sunday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers ... if that game was going to be played. However, it's possible Young could also miss Atlanta's game against the Magic on Wednesday, against the Sixers on Thursday, and even the Christmas Day contest against New York Knicks.
Young isn't the sole reason behind this postponement. ESPN reported that five Cavs players entered the NBA's health and safety protocol Sunday, joining Isaac Okoro and Evan Mobley, and were having trouble finding eight players to take the court — just like several other teams.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have a Covid outbreak on their roster and fears exist that they will struggle to have the league's minimum eight players available to play vs. Atlanta tonight, sources tell ESPN. Five players tested positive this morning.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 19, 2021
