THE NBA on Sunday (Monday in Manila) announced it had postponed the next two Brooklyn Nets games and three other games because of the high number of players and staff who have entered the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, and Philadelphia 76ers will also have games rescheduled because of the recent wave of new cases.
Seven NBA games have been postponed since last week. The Chicago Bulls postponed two games after players and staff members were placed in protocols.
The Eastern Conference-leading Nets have been particularly hard hit, with stars Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving among the nine players unable to suit up due to the protocols.
Demar DeRozan scored 19 of his game-high 38 points in the fourth quarter and Nikola Vucevic registered a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds to boost the host Chicago Bulls to a 115-110 win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday (Monday in Manila).
In other games, it was the Pistons 100, Heat 90; Blazers 105, Grizzlies 100; Suns 137, Hornets 106; Kings 121, Spurs 114; and Wolves 111, Mavericks 105.
Cleveland’s home game against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday was postponed after five Cavaliers players tested positive for COVID-19 in the morning, ESPN reported.
Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel also entered the protocols and missed their game in Chicago. Assistant David Fizdale served as the acting coach against the Bulls.
Lakers forward Kent Bazemore also entered the protocols, becoming the seventh Lakers’ player to do so amid the current outbreak.
