Warriors’ road game against Suns postponed due to COVID-19.
The Golden State Warriors’ matchup against the Suns in Phoenix on Friday has been postponed because the Suns don’t have enough available players required to participate in the game.
The league announced contract tracing will prevent Phoenix from having eight players available after the Suns were exposed to Washington Wizards players who tested positive for COVID-19 during a game on Monday.
Both the Suns and Wizards had games previously scheduled for Wednesday and Friday postponed, increasing the number of games postponed due to the pandemic this season to nine, and eight since Sunday.
Golden State departed San Francisco for a threegame trip Wednesday that was initially slated to include stops in Denver, Phoenix and Los Angeles. The Warriors will have three days off after playing the Nuggets Thursday. The now two-game trip concludes with Monday’s game against the Lakers
NFL
MEYER AGREES TO RETURN TO COACHING WITH JAGUARS >> Urban Meyer agreed to become head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars , leaving the broadcast booth and returning to the sidelines after a two-year absence that followed another health scare.
The 56-year-old Meyer was team owner Shad Khan’s top target, and Khan waited nearly a week to get it done. They met last Friday on Khan’s yacht in Miami, again Wednesday and one final time at the facility Thursday. Hiring the longtime college coach with three national championships would signify a new direction for a franchise that has lost 105 of 144 games since Khan took over in 2012.
STEFANSKI RETURNS TO BROWNS >> Browns coach Kevin Stefanski is back with his playoff team after having COVID-19.
Stefanski returned to the team’s facility 10 days after he tested positive with the virus and after he missed Cleveland’s playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
He had been isolated in his home for the required 10 days since contracting COVID-19. He lost his sense of taste but experienced only mild symptoms.
Stefanski will make his playoff debut on the sideline Sunday when the Browns play the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
College football
JONES AMONG 4 ALABAMA UNDERCLASSMEN DECLARING FOR DRAFT >> Four stars from Alabama’s national championship team, including Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Mac Jones, are leaving early to enter the NFL draft.
Jones, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, cornerback Patrick Surtain II and defensive lineman Christian Barmore announced their intentions to leave. All are considered potential firstround picks.
College basketball
VIRGINIA, SAN JOSE STATE LATEST WOMEN’S TEAMS TO END SEASONS >> The injurydepleted Virginia women’s basketball team has opted out of the remainder of the season, becoming the second Atlantic Coast Conference team to make that decision.
Virginia announced that the women’s team will not complete the remainder of the season due to health and safety concerns. San Jose State also announced its women’s program would not complete the season due to COVID-19 issues. The Spartans had previously paused basketball activities twice during the pandemic.
Pro basketball
RAIDERS OWNER BUYING WNBA’S ACES >> Mark Davis is expanding his sports empire in Las Vegas, buying the Aces from MGM Resorts International.
The Raiders owner purchased the WNBA team pending approval from the league’s board of governors.
The Aces moved to Las Vegas from San Antonio in 2017 and have been successful on the court. Las Vegas had the league’s best record last season losing to Seattle in the WNBA Finals. CELTICS PLAN TO PLAY FRIDAY, ANOTHER SUNS GAME CALLED >> The Boston Celtics expect their unplanned week-long hiatus because of coronavirus-related issues to end Friday, when they’re scheduled to play host to the Orlando Magic. The Phoenix Suns, however, have a bit more time off coming.
The Indiana at Phoenix game scheduled for Saturday has been called off — the ninth such postponement since the week began. The Suns will not have enough players eligible to play, largely because of contact tracing issues, the NBA said.
Tennis
MURRAY TESTS POSITIVE FOR VIRUS >> Andy Murray has tested positive for the coronavirus days just before he was due to leave Britain for the Australian Open, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.
The three-time Grand Slam champion is isolating at home and still hopes to compete in Australia when it is safe to travel, the person said.
Murray has been given a wild-card entry into the first Grand Slam tournament of 2021.