By The Athletic NBA staff
December 19, 2021 at 7:54 PM EST
On Monday, the NBA postponed two Chicago Bulls games as the team deals with a COVID-19 outbreak that sent 10 players into the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
That was just the beginning of what has already become a wild week for the NBA.
On Sunday came more postponements across the league. The NBA has now postponed Sunday’s game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks, the New Orleans Pelicans and the Philadelphia 76ers, Monday’s game between the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors, as well as the Brooklyn Nets‘ next two games: Sunday against the Denver Nuggets and Tuesday against the Washington Wizards.
Postponed games in 2021-22 season:
Washington Wizards at Brooklyn Nets (Originally scheduled for Dec. 21)
Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors (Dec. 20)
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Philadelphia 76ers (Dec. 19)
Denver Nuggets vs. Brooklyn Nets (Dec. 19)
Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (Dec. 19)
Chicago Bulls vs. Toronto Raptors (Dec. 16)
Detroit Pistons vs. Chicago Bulls (Dec. 14)
Follow along here as The Athletic keeps you updated to the league’s ongoing COVID-19 situation.
Latest news and what to know:
- Lakers coach Frank Vogel enters NBA’s health and safety protocols
- Cavaliers rookie Evan Mobley enters NBA’s health and safety protocols, will miss Bucks game
- Nets’ Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving join James Harden, other teammates in health and safety protocols
- NBA to test daily for COVID-19 during Christmas, New Year’s holidays: Sources
December 19, 2021 at 7:54 PM EST
What’s next for Cleveland?
As the NBA deals with a slew of players entering health and safety protocols daily, the Cleveland Cavaliers are in the mix of it. On Sunday, a source confirmed to The Athletic that the Cavs had five additional players enter the NBA’s health and safety protocols. ESPN first reported the news.
Joining Isaac Okoro and Evan Mobley in protocols are Jarrett Allen, Lamar Stevens, Dylan Windler, Denzel Valentine and RJ Nembhard. As of Sunday afternoon, Cleveland had a total of seven players in protocols.
Now that Cleveland is without three of its starters and pieces of its young core for some time, how will they push through? It’s important to remember, the Cavs have been in this position once already this season.
Kelsey Russo·
Staff Writer, Cavaliers
GO FURTHER
The Cavs’ Sunday game postponed with 7 players in COVID-19 protocols — what happens next?
December 19, 2021 at 7:46 PM EST
Warriors’ starters sidelined with COVID-19
That’s now two Warriors‘ starters in health and safety protocols. Andrew Wiggins joins Jordan Poole, who is still quarantined in Boston. Before these past couple games, both Poole and Wiggins had started every Warriors’ game to this point, scoring a combined 37 points per game. Without them, the Warriors will likely struggle to generate enough offense around Steph Curry, but there aren’t many teams in the league avoiding this type of attrition right now.
Anthony Slater·
Senior Writer, Warriors
December 19, 2021 at 7:42 PM EST
Andrew Wiggins added to COVID-19 health and safety protocols
Warriors‘ small forward Andrew Wiggins will enter health and safety protocols, the team announced.
By The Athletic NBA staff
Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins has entered health and safety protocols.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 20, 2021
December 19, 2021 at 6:22 PM EST
Cavaliers plan to sign Luke Kornet and Justin Anderson
Amid the recent COVID-19 outbreak within the organization, the Cavs are looking to sign Luke Kornet and Justin Anderson to 10-day hardship exemptions.
By The Athletic NBA staff
With seven players in health and safety protocols, the Cavaliers are targeting Kornet and Justin Anderson, of G League’s Fort Wayne, as signings if/when granted hardships, sources said. Cleveland is going through retesting process as well. https://t.co/oqpmkb5r5a
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 19, 2021
December 19, 2021 at 5:50 PM EST
Celtics’ Josh Richardson re-entering health and safety protocols
After a 27-point night off the bench in Saturday’s win over the New York Knicks, Josh Richardson will be re-entering health and safety protocols, forcing him to miss Monday night’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers.
By The Athletic NBA staff
This has been a weird stretch for Richardson. He tested positive in Phoenix, came back quickly after testing negative multiple times. Now he’s back in the health and safety protocols, all in the span of 10 days. https://t.co/mcCbd2znaW
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) December 19, 2021
December 19, 2021 at 5:46 PM EST
Raptors 905 unable to play in G League Winter Showcase
Raptors 905 will not be playing in this week’s G League Winter Showcase, citing league health and safety protocols. The College Park Skyhawks and Texas Legends, who were both supposed to play Raptors 905, will now play one another on Dec. 22.
Eric Koreen·
Staff Writer, Raptors
December 19, 2021 at 5:02 PM EST
Timberwolves add Okogie to health and safety protocols
The Minnesota Timberwolves added Josh Okogie to its COVID-19 health and safety protocol list.
By The Athletic NBA staff
UPDATED Minnesota @Timberwolves Status Report in advance of tonight’s game vs Dallas:
OUT
Edwards – Health & Safety Protocols
Knight – G League Two-Way
Okogie – Health & Safety Protocols
Prince – Health & Safety Protocols
Wright IV – G League Two-Way— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) December 19, 2021
December 19, 2021 at 2:27 PM EST
Nets next two games postponed, league announced
The league announced Sunday that the Nets next two games are postponed, tonight’s game against Denver and Tuesday’s game against Washington. The Nets’ next three games are on the west coast, starting at Portland on Thursday before Saturday’s Christmas Day again against the Lakers.
The Nets have 10 players in health and safety protocols with Day’Ron Sharpe being the latest addition shortly before last night’s tip-off against Orlando. The Nets had just nine available players for the game, but weren’t expected to play Blake Griffin on Sunday after he tweaked his knee and were hoping to rest Patty Mills, who had played a lot of minutes with Brooklyn’s core in quarantine.
The Nets have yet to announce the reported signing of Wenyen Gabriel as a replacement player and their next steps are uncertain. Paul Millsap is slated to be the first player out of protocols on Wednesday, barring a delay, but it’s hard to see the Nets playing him in Portland after so much time off. On the other hand, it’s hard to see the Nets making a second trip west if more games are postponed, which is a reason to think they’d try and make the west coast trip work.
Alex Schiffer·
Staff Writer, Nets
December 19, 2021 at 2:07 PM EST
Sixers-Pelicans postponed, Drummond, Milton in COVID protocol
The league announced that Sunday’s game between the Sixers and Pelicans was postponed after Andre Drummond and Shake Milton were put into the health and safety protocols.
Basically, the Sixers only had five players that were guaranteed to be available (Seth Curry, Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle, Isaiah Joe, Charles Bassey). All three of the Sixers players listed as questionable (Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Danny Green) would have needed to suit up for the Sixers to get to the required eight players.
As of now, the Sixers’ game on Monday in Boston has not been postponed. Paul Reed and Aaron Henry are in Las Vegas for the G League showcase but they could potentially rejoin the team in time for that game. The Sixers announced that tickets for Sunday’s game will be honored when the makeup date with the Pelicans is scheduled.
Rich Hofmann·
Staff Writer, 76ers
December 19, 2021 at 2:05 PM EST
Cavaliers-Hawks postponed on Sunday
The Cleveland Cavaliers game against the Hawks on Sunday in Atlanta has been postponed, the league announced. Five players for Cleveland entered health and safety protocols Sunday.
Those five players include Jarrett Allen, Lamar Stevens, Dylan Windler, Denzel Valentine and RJ Nembhard. They join Isaac Okoro and Evan Mobley, were were already in the health and safety protocols. Mobley entered the protocols on Saturday before the Cavs faced the Bucks, and Okoro entered protocols on Thursday. They are up to 7 players in health and safety protocols. They are also without Collin Sexton, who had season-ending surgery for a meniscus injury.
The Cavs are currently scheduled to play the Celtics in Boston on Wednesday.
Kelsey Russo·
Staff Writer, Cavaliers
December 19, 2021 at 1:52 PM EST
Raptors and Magic’s Monday game postponed
The game between the Toronto Raptors and the Orlando Magic scheduled for Monday has been postponed, the league announced Sunday. The decision was attributed to the number of Magic players and staff in the league’s COVID-related health and safety protocols.
As of Sunday, Terrence Ross, Mo Bamba, Moe Wagner, R.J. Hampton and Ignas Brazdekis were in protocols, while a host of other players were unavailable because of injury. Pascal Siakam and Dalano Banton entered protocols for the Raptors on Saturday evening, before their game against the Warriors. That game was played in front of half-capacity because of Ontario’s new guidelines released late in the week. Monday was scheduled to be the first game in Toronto in which concessions were not served.
The Raptors’ next scheduled game is on Wednesday in Chicago. Orlando is next scheduled to play in Atlanta, also on Wednesday.
Eric Koreen·
Staff Writer, Raptors
December 19, 2021 at 1:40 PM EST
Postponements for Brooklyn, Cleveland, Orlando, Philadelphia
The next games for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers and the following two games for the Brooklyn Nets have been postponed due to players and staff members entering COVID-19 protocol.
The following games have been impacted:
Sunday, Dec. 19 Denver at Brooklyn
Cleveland at Atlanta
New Orleans at Philadelphia
Monday, Dec. 20 Orlando at Toronto
Tuesday, Dec. 21 Washington at Brooklyn
By The Athletic NBA staff
