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:
- Nets-Nuggets, Cavs-Hawks among 5 games postponed due to NBA's COVID-19 outbreak
- Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins enters health and safety protocols
- 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
NBA changing its policies to keep up with COVID-19 surge
Sources tell The Athletic that the NBA will allow teams to sign one replacement player for each of its players who are under contract and tests positive for COVID-19 -- effective immediately through Jan. 19.
NBA teams will now be required to sign one replacement player when they have two positive tests on the roster. For three positive tests, two replacement signings are required. For four positive results or more, three hardship signings are required.
Another key note in NBA's roster rule changes for flexibility amid pandemic:
Two-way players -- who previously had 50-game max -- now have no limit on the number of games they can appear in, sources said.
There is no requirement to sign a replacement player if a team is able to have 13 players healthy for games, sources say.
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.
Andrew Wiggins added to COVID-19 health and safety protocols
Warriors' small forward Andrew Wiggins will enter health and safety protocols, the team announced.
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.
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