NEW YORK (AFP, REUTERS) - The Washington Wizards game scheduled for Wednesday (Jan 20) at Charlotte is now postponed after six players tested positive for Covid-19, the National Basketball Association said on Monday (Jan 18).

It will mark the fifth Wizards game in a row over an eight-day span that has been postponed because the club cannot send a minimum eight players onto the court under NBA health and safety protocols. They last played on Jan 11, a 128-107 win over Phoenix.

"Because of ongoing contact tracing within the Wizards, the team will not have the league-required eight available players to proceed with the scheduled game against the Hornets," the NBA said in a statement.

Players testing positive are required to quarantine for 10 to 14 days.

The Hornets-Wizards game is the 15th to be postponed since the NBA campaign was launched a month ago, the 14th over an 11-day span starting Jan 10.

Trust in the system

Washington's next scheduled contest is Friday at Milwaukee.

The Wizards were to have hosted Cleveland on Sunday and Monday. They also had postponements against Utah last Wednesday and Detroit last Friday.

Wizards coach Scott Brooks says he remains confident in the NBA's plan to play in home arenas rather than a bubble atmosphere the way last season was completed after a Covid-19 break.

"We still trust in the NBA and the medical, the science and everything behind it. They are going to put us in the best position possible," Brooks said.

"We knew going into it there were going to be some bumps in the road. We've got to keep navigating. It has definitely been some difficult days for us but we're going to have to continue to work together and move on."