Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Rockets’ opener vs. Thunder off
Keeping an eye on the world of sports during the pandemic:
The Rockets’ season opener against the Thunder on Wednesday night in Houston was postponed after coronavirus cases and James Harden’s violation of the NBA’s COVID19 protocols left the Rockets without the league-mandated eight players available.
The NBA announced the postponement in a release that said three Rockets players had returned tests that were either positive or inconclusive and that four other players were quarantined because of contract tracing.
The release also said that Harden, above, was unavailable for the game because of a violation of health and safety protocols after video of the disgruntled star surfaced on social media where he was without a mask at a crowded party in a private event space Tuesday night.
Rumors have swirled for months that Harden wants to be traded, but he has refused to address the situation.
A ninth player was unavailable for the game because of an injury, leaving the Rockets without enough players to play Wednesday night.
The Rockets’ injury report released Wednesday morning that Ben McLemore and rookie KJ Martin weren’t with the team and were self-isolating and that DeMarcus Cousins was questionable because of a sprained right ankle.
Also Wednesday, veteran point guard Rajon Rondo missed the Hawks’ season opener against the Bulls in Chicago because he recently violated the league’s coronavirus protocols.
The Athletic reported Tuesday that the 34-year-old fourtime All-Star, who’s in his first season with the Hawks, attended a funeral last weekend and can’t play until he clears the league’s protocols.