The NBA postponed two Nets games on Sunday as a coronavirus outbreak spread through the league, causing a new wave of schedule disruptions. The Nets’ home games against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday and the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, as well as Cleveland’s and New Orleans’ games on Sunday, have been postponed. A game between Orlando and Toronto on Monday was also cancelled, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related cancellations this season to seven.
The NBA has yet to announce when the games will be rescheduled. Last season, the virus caused more than 30 games to be postponed, at least in part. Over the last two weeks, dozens of players have entered the NBA’s health and safety systems, indicating that they have tested positive for the coronavirus or have been exposed to someone who has. To return to play, players must either isolate for 10 days or submit two negative tests 24 hours apart.
In reaction to the epidemic, the league and players’ union plan to intensify testing after Christmas Day, but have not suggested that the season will be stopped. According to the league and the players’ union, more than 95 percent of NBA players have been vaccinated. The NHL also stated on Sunday that it would postpone 21 games set for Monday through December 23 that featured Canadian clubs against US-based teams “because to concerns about cross-border travel and, given the fluid nature of federal travel restrictions.” The games will be resumed on December 27. On Saturday, the NFL and the NFL Players Association changed their testing protocols for the fourth time in a week. The current outbreak in the NBA has impacted players and clubs around the league, including some who are expected to play in the league’s premier five-game Christmas schedule. A game between the Nets and the Lakers is on the schedule, but nine Nets players, including Kevin Durant and James Harden, are being held out of games and practices due to a virus.
