Another NBA game was suspended on Sunday due to concerns about the coronavirus and the Memphis Grizzlies announced that Lithuanian center Jonas Valanciunas will not play on Monday due to the league’s health and safety protocols.
The NBA reported that Sunday night’s game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Philadelphia 76ers has been postponed in accordance with NBA protocol to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The league indicated that due to the 76ers’ continuous tracking of contacts with people infected with coronavirus, the team “does not have the eight available players required” by the NBA to carry out the game.
This is the 13th game to be postponed since January 10 due to COVID-19 issues, a time when the NBA and the players’ union have tightened protocols and even added coronavirus testing in hopes that the season will continue. without having to deal with many additional problems.
The decision to suspend the 76ers-Thunder game was made approximately 90 minutes before the scheduled start time. The 76ers visited the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night, losing 106-104 in a game in which Valanciunas played 20 minutes.
The Grizzlies indicated that the Lithuanian will not be able to play against Phoenix on Monday due to league protocols – those that consider various issues, including a positive test, an inconclusive test result or possible contact with someone who tested positive for COVID -19.
Sunday’s postponement of the first for Philadelphia and Oklahoma City since this latest wave of NBA virus issues began earlier this month, and led to a total of 18 teams having to postpone at least one game. from January 10. A Thunder engagement in Houston was also called off on Dec. 23 when the Rockets did not have enough players eligible for the game, due in large part to contact tracing issues.
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