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Russell Westbrook entered the NBA’s well being and security protocols Thursday, becoming a member of Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brooklyn’s James Harden as previous league MVP’s at the moment sidelined by coronavirus issues.
Westbrook performed 42 minutes for the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday evening of their additional time win at Dallas. The Lakers mentioned he wouldn’t play Friday evening in Minnesota, together with 4 different gamers due to virus points and two extra due to accidents.
All meaning the Lakers would have not more than 10 accessible gamers on their roster for the sport in opposition to the Timberwolves. If granted permission by the NBA to signal reinforcements and quickly exceed the roster-size restrict, the group was planning to signal former All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas to a 10-day hardship contract Friday, in response to an individual with direct data of the negotiations. The individual spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity due to the pending league approval.
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As of Thursday night, there have been at the very least 39 gamers — roughly 8% of the league’s complete participant roster — from at the very least 13 totally different groups recognized to be within the league’s protocols. Chicago had a league-high eight gamers recognized to be in protocols, yet one more than Brooklyn. Harden and Antetokounmpo each entered the protocols earlier this week.
“We received hit actually onerous with all this and we misplaced a whole lot of gamers,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan mentioned Thursday. “Different groups have perhaps been hit a bit of bit, however not as a lot.”
Thomas scored 42 factors for Grand Rapids in a G League sport Wednesday evening and not too long ago appeared in two video games for USA Basketball in World Cup qualifying video games in Mexico. He was within the NBA briefly final season, averaging 7.7 factors in three video games with New Orleans.
If it occurs, it’s going to be his second stint with the Lakers. He appeared in 17 video games with them in the course of the 2017-18 season.
“For me, personally, the last word aim is to get again within the NBA,” Thomas, who averaged 29 factors for the Boston Celtics in 2016-17 and spent a substantial period of time battling accidents since, mentioned final month. “However I simply love taking part in the sport of basketball. … I like competing and I like taking part in in opposition to the perfect gamers on the earth.”
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There was a bit of fine information Thursday when the Bulls revealed that two of their 10 gamers who entered protocols have since been cleared for a return.
The Bulls had two video games this week postponed due to a participant scarcity. For now, they’re scheduled to return to play Sunday at dwelling in opposition to the Lakers.
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Extra AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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