NBA changes protocols, shortens path to return
NBA players who test positive for COVID-19 now have a quicker path to return to play, after the league completed a significant update to its health and safety protocols on Monday.
The biggest change: Isolation periods for players who test positive may now be significantly shortened — down to six days from what has been the customary 10 — provided those players are asymptomatic and meet other testing standards. Teams were told of the new protocols in a memo sent by the league, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press.
That memo was sent on the same day the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cut isolation restrictions for Americans who catch the coronavirus from 10 to five days. CDC officials made that move saying that evidence shows people with the coronavirus are most infectious in the two days before and three days after symptoms develop.
The NBA also relied on data, telling teams the updated protocols “reflects analysis of testing data that the league and its infectious disease experts and epidemiologists have gathered throughout the pandemic.”
The NBA has seen coronavirus numbers soar in recent days, even with 97% of players vaccinated and at least 65% of eligible players boosted against the virus. A pair of coaches — Phoenix’s Monty Williams and Portland’s Chauncey Billups — entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols Monday.
Williams and Billups being off the sideline raises the total of head coaches in the NBA currently sidelined by virus issues to four, including the Lakers’ Frank Vogel and Chicago’s Billy Donovan.
The count of players in the NBA’s protocols remained around 120 on Monday afternoon, with 63 players ruled out from among the seven games on the day’s schedule because of virusrelated issues. Among the additions to the list: Olympic gold medalist Jayson Tatum, placed into protocols by the Boston Celtics.
Atlanta listed 12 players as out — 10 for virus reasons, two for injuries — for its game against Chicago on Monday night. HORNETS 123, ROCKETS 99 >> Terry Rozier scored 27 points and made seven 3-pointers, and Charlotte routed Houston for its second straight win.
Mason Plumlee added 15 points and nine rebounds for the Hornets.
The Rockets have lost six of their last seven games. BULLS 130, HAWKS 118 >> DeMar DeRozan scored 35 points, Zach LaVine added 30 and Chicago won its fourth straight game, beating short-handed Atlanta.
Cam Reddish finished with 33 points and Trae Young, cleared from health and safety protocols about 90 minutes before tipoff, returned to the starting lineup and scored 29 for the host Hawks.
Nikola Vucevic of the Bulls got his 14th doubledouble with 24 points and 17 rebounds.