Memphis Grizzlies’ next three games postponed due to COVID-19 issues.
The Grizzlies' COVID-19 issues got worse Thursday as the NBA postponed their next three games in accordance with the league's health and safety protocols.
The Grizzlies won't play at the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, and they won't host the Sacramento Kings on Sunday and Monday. The news comes after Wednesday's game with the Trail Blazers was postponed due to contact tracing within the Grizzlies' roster.
The Grizzlies had one positive COVID-19 case as of Thursday, a league source with direct knowledge of the situation told The Commercial Appeal, and the NBA is erring on the side of caution to prevent spread. The source requested anonymity because details of the team's outthe break have not been announced.
In the NBA'S statement, the league said it postponed the games due to "unavailable players for the Grizzlies and contact tracing for other players on their roster and in order to ensure the health and safety of players on both teams."
Players have been tested twice a day since the begging of training camp with a PCR test and a rapid saliva test. Teams must have a minimum eight players available to play in a game.
The Grizzlies announced Saturday they'll be without Jonas Valanciunas, who is in the league's health and safety protocols and didn't travel on the road trip.
Since last Friday, five of the Grizzlies' next seven games have been postponed. It began when the Grizzlies' game with the Minnesota Timberwolves was postponed because of contract tracing issues with Timberwolves.
Wolves center Karl-anthony Towns later announced he tested positive for COVID-19.
The Grizzlies played the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday and the Phoenix Suns on Monday. The 76ers had to postpone their next game Sunday due to contact tracing but resumed play Wednesday against the Boston Celtics.
The NBA and National Basketball Players Association announced Wednesday that 11 new players (out of 502) returned positive tests for COVID-19 since Jan. 13. That's down from 16 positive tests announced the previous week
According to ESPN, the league will also have team security at midcourt to prevent teams from handshakes and embraces before and after games.