NBA, players are working on beefing up safety protocols

The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association are in the process of enhancing their health and safety protocols in response to rising coronavirus numbers around the league, said a person familiar with the negotiations.

Among the biggest changes: The league and the union are working to finalize a plan to return to daily testing for players and coaches, at least in the short term, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on condition of anonymity because nothing had been finalized or publicly announced.

Fully vaccinated players have not needed daily testing this season. The league and the union were already prepared to start daily testing on Friday for those who have yet to receive booster shots.

The league has said about 97% of players are vaccinated, and just over 60% of those are boosted. But there were 33 players known to be in the league’s health and safety protocols as of Wednesday evening, along with two head coaches — Indiana’s Rick Carlisle and Sacramento interim coach Alvin Gentry — and a number of other staffers.

Among the big-name players currently sidelined: Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brooklyn’s James Harden. The league has postponed two games this week involving the Chicago Bulls, who have a league-high 10 players currently in protocols.

LAKERS 107, MAVERICKS 104, OT>> Rookie Austin Reaves hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer in overtime at give Los Angeles the victory. LeBron James scored 24 points, Russell Westbrook added 23 and Anthony Davis had 20 points and 12 rebounds after missing two games with a sore left knee.

HAWKS 111, MAGIC 99 >> Trae Young played through a minor neck injury to score 28 points as Atlanta ended a two-game losing streak. HEAT 101, 76ERS 96 >> Gabe Vincent hit a key 3-pointer in the fourth quarter and scored 26 points, Duncan Robinson had 21 points, and short-handed Miami built a 23-point lead and held on for the victory.

CAVALIERS 124, ROCKETS 89 >> Darius Garland scored 21 points, Isaac Okoro added 20 and Cleveland won its fifth straight.

AINGE JOINS JAZZ AS CEO >> Danny Ainge, who helped the Boston Celtics win two NBA titles as a player and another as a team executive, is the new CEO of the Utah Jazz. Ainge was also named an alternate governor for the Jazz on the NBA’s Board of Governors.