5 games postponed because of COVID
The NBA on Sunday postponed a total of five games involving nine teams in response to rising coronavirus numbers, raising the number of contests that have been pushed back this season to seven.
Called off were three Sunday games: Cleveland at Atlanta, Denver at Brooklyn and New Orleans at Philadelphia. Also shelved were Orlando’s game at Toronto on Monday and Washington’s game at Brooklyn on Tuesday.
The postponements came on the same day that Atlanta announced star guard Trae Young entered the league’s health and safety protocols and the Los Angeles Lakers said coach Frank Vogel also was added to the list.
Through Sunday afternoon, there were at least 68 players who have been ruled out because they’re in the protocols.
BULLS 115, LAKERS 110
DeMar DeRozan scored 38 points after missing two weeks in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, leading his team to a win in Chicago and snapping a two-game losing streak.
It was the Bulls’ first game since Dec. 11 after two were postponed.
SUNS 137, HORNETS 106
Devin Booker had 16 points in his return to the lineup as NBA-leading Phoenix set a seasonscoring high in a 137-106 victory at home.
After missing seven games because of a hamstring injury, Booker played 26 minutes and sat out the fourth quarter with Phoenix well ahead. The Suns improved to 24-5, moving a half-game ahead of Golden State.
TRAIL BLAZERS 105 GRIZZLIES 100
Damian Lillard scored 32 points and Norman Powell added 28 as visiting Portland snapped Memphis’ five-game winning streak.
The Grizzlies had a chance to tie at 103 with 5.3 seconds to go, but Desmond Bane’s 3-pointer rimmed out.
TIMBERWOLVES 111 MAVERICKS 105
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 24 points and D’Angelo Russell added 22 as host Minnesota won a matchup between shorthanded teams dealing with COVID-19 issues.
Dallas, already without star guard Luka Doncic, placed two players in the health and safety protocols the past two days. Minnesota added Josh Okogie to the protocols and Anthony Edwards and Taurean Prince each missed their second game.
KINGS 121, SPURS 114
Buddy Hield scored 18 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter and made seven 3-pointers to lift Sacramento to a home victory.
Tyrese Haliburton added 27 points and matched his career high with 11 assists, and Damian Jones scored a career-high 23 points.
PISTONS 100, HEAT 90
Saddiq Bey scored 26 points as Detroit won at home to snap its losing streak at a franchise record-tying 14 games.
The Pistons improved to 5-24, winning for the first time since Nov. 17 against Indiana.