Silver says no plans for a pause
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday that there are “no plans” to pause the season, even as the number of players entering the league’s health and safety protocols related to the coronavirus continues to rise.
Silver, in an interview with ESPN, said the league has examined multiple options but does not yet see a reason to stop play. Through early Tuesday evening, at least 84 players from 20 teams — not including some coaches and staffers — were believed to be in the protocols, though those numbers tend to change almost on an hourly basis. The count is largely based on what teams have disclosed on their most recent injury report.
“Frankly, we’re having trouble coming up with what the logic would be behind pausing right now,” Silver said. “As we look through these cases literally ripping through the country right now, putting aside the rest of the world, I think we’re finding ourselves where we sort of knew we were going to get to for the past several months — and that is that this virus will not be eradicated and we’re going to have to learn to live with it. That’s what we’re experiencing in the league right now.”
Silver’s remarks came on the same day that the 10 NBA teams with games scheduled on Christmas were told by the league that shifting some game times is a possibility for the planned five-game slate, if virus-related issues force changes to the lineup and create holes in the national television schedule.
The league told the teams the priority is filling the ABC windows for Saturday’s games, which means the slots at 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific. For now, those games, in order, would have Boston at Milwaukee, the Warriors at Phoenix and Brooklyn at the Los Angeles Lakers.
The other games on the Christmas schedule are Atlanta at New York at 9 a.m. and Dallas at Utah at 7:30 p.m. Both of those games are to be on ESPN.
“There’s no doubt those five Christmas Day games are important,” Silver said. “But as you know, we play many games every day.”
The NBA has postponed seven games this season, but none from Wednesday onward yet. Some of the teams scheduled to play Saturday have numerous players and coaches in the league’s health and safety protocols right now; the Nets currently have 10 players on that list, which is the highest known figure for any team.
⏩ Other top NBA players were added to the protocols list Tuesday. Toronto’s Fred VanVleet is one of seven players in protocols for the Raptors.
Atlanta teammates Danilo Gallinari and Clint Capela joined a Hawks list that already included Trae Young, raising questions about their availability for Christmas.
Suns 108, Lakers 90: Devin Booker scored 24 points to lead seven players in double figures for visiting Phoenix. Deandre Ayton had 19 points and 11 rebounds. LeBron James had 34 points for Los Angeles, which lost its third-straight game. James had little help as only Russell Westbrook (22 points, 10 rebounds) made an impact among the Lakers. Newly signed guard Isaiah Thomas shot 1-for-11.
Mavericks 114, T’wolves 102: Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and host Dallas, with a boost from newly signed Theo Pinson and former Warrior Marquese Chriss, beat Minnesota. A total of nine players, including three starters, missed the game in the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
Knicks 105, Pistons 91: Evan Fournier scored 22 points, Julius Randle and Kemba Walker each had 21 and New York won at home for the first time since Nov. 23, where the Knicks are 6-10. Saben Lee scored 16 points for Detroit, which had lost 14 straight before beating Miami on Sunday.
Heat 125, Pacers 96: Tyler Herro scored 26 points in his return from a three-game absence with a bruised thigh, Duncan Robinson tied a season high with 26 points and host Miami rolled. Chris Duarte and Caris LeVert each scored 17 points for Indiana.
Pelicans 111, Trail Blazers 97: Brandon Ingram had 28 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for host New Orleans, which beat Portland despite Damian Lillard’s 39 points for the Trail Blazers. The Pelicans’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 27 points in 26 minutes off the bench.