NBA coronavirus updates: Boston Celtics down nine players, seven due to COVID-19 protocols
The Boston Celtics will be without nine players for their game Sunday against Miami Heat.
Seven of those players are out to due the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the team announced. They are: Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Javonte Green, Semi Ojeleye, Tristan Thompson, Grant Williams and Robert Williams.
Romeo Langford is recovering from right wrist surgery and Kemba Walker is out with a left knee injury, according to the team.
That leaves the Celtics with eight players available, the minimum required to play. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.
The Athletic reported on Saturday that Tatum was expected to quarantine for 10 to 14 days.
Dallas Mavericks close facility, two players test positive
The Dallas Mavericks are the latest NBA team to experience COVID-19 issues, according to multiple reports.
Two players have tested positive, and there are four players in the COVID-19 protocols — Maxi Kleber, Jalen Brunson, Dorian Finney-Smith and Josh Richardson — the Dallas Morning News reported, though it is not clear who among the four tested positive.
All four players are quarantining, Kleber entering self-isolation Sunday and the other three remaining in Denver, where the Mavericks played the Nuggets three nights ago; Dallas defeated the Orlando Magic 112-98 on Saturday.
Kleber played against the Magic and is one of the players who has tested positive, according to ESPN.
The team’s facility has been closed and contact tracing is underway, per the reports. Dallas is scheduled to host the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday.
