NBA to review protocols after latest deferrals

NEW YORK • The National Basketball Association (NBA) cited its coronavirus health protocols in postponing two more games, bringing the total number of games shelved this season to four.

The affected matches were Monday night's match-up between the Dallas Mavericks and the New Orleans Pelicans, and yesterday's game between the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics.

The league also said that it would be meeting with the NBA players' union "about modifying the league's health and safety protocols".

On Sunday, after the league postponed a game for the second time this season, an NBA spokesman told The New York Times that there were "no plans to pause the season" and that the league had accounted for postponements when designing the schedule.

Beyond the postponements, several teams have played short-handed when multiple or key players were out because of the virus protocols.

With three games postponed in less than 24 hours, the NBA is seeing an early but notable challenge to its attempt to finish its 72-game schedule, and it is happening less than a month into the new season.

Over the summer, the league did not report any positive results from the players who cleared quarantine to enter its Disney World bubble in Orlando, Florida, to complete the previous campaign.

Since play began this season, with no bubble and cross-country travel, there had been six reported cases until last Wednesday.

That number should rise when the NBA puts out its next weekly report this week.

Seth Curry of the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston's Jayson Tatum are reported to have tested positive since the last report.

According to the league's protocols, players who test positive must isolate for at least 10 days or test negative in two consecutive tests at least 24 hours apart.

If a player could have been exposed to someone with the coronavirus, the league or team may mandate a quarantine after a risk assessment.

So far, five teams have been significantly affected by virus-related absences: Boston, Dallas, Chicago, Philadelphia and the Miami Heat.

The league has said that, because of the wide community spread of the virus, it expected cases and potential exposures among players.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has also said that he did not want the players to "jump the line" to be vaccinated, meaning that teams' missing players because of the protocols may be the norm for the rest of the season.

Players and team staff have agreed to a number of restrictions on their professional and private activities to help reduce infections, like not going to bars and clubs, or indoor social gatherings with 15 or more people.

Instead, the league has recommended that players take up cycling, hiking, boating, golfing, frequenting parks or beaches, or similar activities.

But the latest wave of infections and quarantine suggests more may need to be done.

Meanwhile, Trae Young scored 26 points on Monday to help Atlanta Hawks end their four-game losing streak with a 112-94 win over the 76ers.

NYTIMES