The NBA postponed five NBA games, including the Toronto Raptors versus Orlando Magic contest that was set to take place on Monday at Scotiabank Arena.
The NBA has announced the following: pic.twitter.com/rnNhuq0hc1
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 19, 2021
The NBA announced the postponements are because of players and staff members entering health and safety protocols.
The full list of games includes:
• Denver Nuggets at Brooklyn Nets (Dec. 19)
• Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks (Dec. 19)
• New Orleans Pelicans at Philadelphia 76ers (Dec. 19)
• Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors (Dec. 20)
• Washington Wizards at Brooklyn Nets (Dec. 21)
The Raptors announced that their game was postponed due to Magic players and staff entering protocols. The Magic currently has four players — Terrence Ross, Mo Bamba, R.J. Hampton and Moe Wagner — in protocols.
Toronto’s next scheduled game is on Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls, who will be playing their first game since having two postponed on Sunday. The Raptors are then scheduled to play the Cavaliers on Dec. 26 followed by the 76ers on Dec. 28, both of whom have had their games postponed on Sunday due to outbreaks.
Leaguewide, through Sunday afternoon, there were at least 68 players who have either been ruled out to play — or in the case of the postponed games, would have been ruled out — because they are in the protocols. That number has soared in recent days, with the NBA just one of many sports leagues worldwide dealing with a rapidly worsening issue.
U.S. officials are expecting a wave of breakthrough infections among the vaccinated given the surge of holiday travellers and gatherings expected in the coming days. The NBA has said 97 per cent of players are fully vaccinated and somewhere around 60 per cent had received boosters as of last week. It was not clear how many of the current positive cases involve those who are ineligible for a booster shot or those who have chosen not to receive one.
Also not clear is how many of the NBA cases involve asymptomatic players. The NFL has revised its protocols so that only unvaccinated players and those experiencing possible symptoms of COVID-19 will be tested. The NHL has five teams shut down through Christmas because of outbreaks, and numerous college games at all levels have been cancelled in recent days.
The Cavaliers had five players enter the protocols on Sunday, the team said. All five — center Jarrett Allen, forwards Lamar Stevens and Dylan Windler and guards Denzel Valentine and RJ Nembhard — tested positive for COVID-19, according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team did not release that specific detail. They joined Isaac Okoro and Evan Mobley, who entered the protocols previously.
The 76ers added Andre Drummond and Shake Milton to protocols on Sunday, joining teammate Georges Niang. They also have several players out with injuries and would have struggled to reach the minimum eight eligible player requirement.
Brooklyn’s list of 10 players in protocols includes Kevin Durant, James Harden and — even though he’s still not yet able to play — Kyrie Irving, who has sat out all season for not complying with New York City’s vaccine mandate. The team reversed course Friday and said Irving would be welcomed back “for games and practices in which he is eligible to participate,” knowing he’d still miss two games at the Knicks and trips to Toronto and Golden State.
Teams are allowed to sign extra players to exceed the 15-man roster under the hardship waiver, but ESPN’s Bobby Marks reports that travel logistics present a challenge to get extra bodies because the majority of players that fall under the hardship umbrella are currently in Las Vegas for the G-League Cup.
The NBA has now postponed a total of seven games this season, two of which involve the Raptors.
The latest postponements came on the same day that Atlanta announced star guard Trae Young entered the league’s health and safety protocols and the Los Angeles Lakers said coach Frank Vogel also was added to the list. Vogel won’t be on the bench when his Lakers play Sunday at Chicago. David Fizdale will coach in Vogel’s place, the Lakers said.
“It is what it is. Just trying to stay safe as possible and that’s all you can do,” Lakers guard Russell Westbrook said of the NBA’s rising numbers. Westbrook was briefly in the protocols late last week, before returning at least three negative coronavirus tests and being cleared to return to play without missing a game.
The league and the National Basketball Players Association have been discussing a plan in which teams in desperate need of players would be able to sign reinforcements to 10-day contracts but without those deals impacting salary cap and luxury tax figures. That deal has not yet been finalized, though talks are continuing.
— With files from the Associated Press
Raptors vs. Magic game among five postponements announced by NBA
Source: Pinas Ko Mahal
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