The list of players currently dealing with NBA health protocols approached 100 on Wednesday, as uncertainty continues about the availability of top basketball players for the five Christmas games.
Two other matches were postponed, bringing the total this season to nine due to the coronavirus. Dallas star Luka Doncic was added to the protocols, an indicator that he may not be available to face Utah as part of the Christmas matches.
“It’s unpredictable. You just don’t know, ”Los Angeles Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony acknowledged. “What we’re dealing with is bigger than basketball, bigger than this.”
The league postponed Wednesday’s game between Toronto and Chicago and Thursday’s game between Brooklyn and Portland. The NBA indicated that neither the Raptors nor the Nets have enough players.
According to league rule, teams need to have at least eight healthy players for the game to take place.
As of Wednesday and according to the team report and other statements, at this time there are 95 players from 22 teams who have problems related to COVID-19. It is important to clarify that the players can enter and leave the list in some cases, some teams do not disclose the amount except by obligation of the league and not all those who are on the list tested positive.
“It seems like this changes by the hour,” admitted Atlanta coach Nate McMillan.
The Nets have postponed their last three games – and this means the earliest they could play would be Saturday, when they are scheduled to face the Lakers in Game 4 of Christmas.
The Nets have what appears to be the most players on the COVID-19 roster, with 10, including Kevin Durant, James Harden and – though he hasn’t played the entire season – Kyrie Irving.
The 10 teams that have Christmas games scheduled – Atlanta in New York, Boston in Milwaukee, Golden State in Phoenix, Nets against the Lakers and Dallas in Utah – have a total of 44 players in health protocols as of Wednesday.
Commissioner Adam Silver said in an interview with ESPN that the NBA has no plans to declare a hiatus in the campaign.
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