NBA toughens mask policy
The NBA is adopting a tougher policy regarding masks, telling teams in a memo that players on the active roster will have to wear the face coverings in the bench area until they enter games.
That memo was released after the Brooklyn Nets ruled all-star forward Kevin Durant out for Tuesday’s game against Utah in accordance with the league’s health and safety protocols for dealing with coronavirus.
Durant will have to complete a seven-day quarantine, which would also rule him out of three additional games – at home against Philadelphia on Thursday, at Memphis on Friday and home again to play Oklahoma City on Sunday.
Among the new rules, which took effect Tuesday: Players who are dressed for games and eligible to participate must wear a face mask until they enter the game, all players and coaches must wear face masks when outside the team environment if they are around other players and coaches, and players must report the names of any private trainer, therapist, chiropractor or other specialist who they work with outside of the team facility.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
The No. 6 Baylor women are restricting team activities after coach Kim Mulkey tested positive for COVID-19, and have canceled Thursday’s much-anticipated home game against No. 4 UConn.
Mulkey missed Baylor’s win Saturday at TCU because of contact tracing after being exposed to a family member who tested positive. Mulkey initially tested negative and was in self quarantine. She had planned to rejoin the team Monday but tested positive that day and will isolate for an additional 10 days.
The school said Baylor’s participation in upcoming games will be determined by how long the program is restricting activity with safety of the program and its members driving those decisions. The next scheduled game for the Lady Bears is Sunday against Kansas State.
Big Ten game postponed: The Penn State-Ohio State men’s basketball game scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed due to COVID-19 issues with the Nittany Lions.
The Buckeyes are continuing to prepare for their game Saturday at Rutgers.
HOCKEY
John Muckler, who coached four NHL teams and won five Stanley Cup championships with the Edmonton Oilers, has died. He was 86.