NBA COVID updates: Mavericks’ Kristaps Porzingis, Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer in health and safety protocols

With the omicron variant working rampant, NBA rosters are in flux. Dallas Mavericks huge man Kristaps Porzingis is among the many many gamers within the league’s COVID-19 well being and security protocols. In associated information, since Dec. 26, tighter protocols — stricter masks necessities, elevated testing — have been in impact. These guidelines shall be in place till Jan. 8. 

Another change: Some gamers can now clear well being and security protocols and return to play as quickly as 5 days after testing constructive, offered that they’re asymptomatic, vaccinated and sure not contagious (i.e. their cycle threshold is above 30).

Gamers to have lately cleared protocols embrace the New York Knicks’ Julius Randle, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Cities and D’Angelo Russell. 

Between the tweaked return-to-play coverage and the new rule mandating teams to use hardship exceptions when a number of gamers are in protocols, the NBA is aiming to keep away from suspending video games. Regardless of this, the scheduled recreation between the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets on Dec. 30 was postponed as a result of Denver didn’t have the required eight gamers. 

There have been 11 postponements this season, and the NBA announced makeup dates this week. Here is a listing of the video games that have been pushed again:

• Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets (Dec. 30)
• Miami Warmth at San Antonio Spurs (Dec. 29)
• Brooklyn Nets at Portland Path Blazers (Dec. 23)
• Toronto Raptors at Chicago Bulls (Dec. 22)
• Washington Wizards at Brooklyn Nets (Dec. 21)
• Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors (Dec. 20)
• New Orleans Pelicans at Philadelphia 76ers (Dec. 19)
• Denver Nuggets at Brooklyn Nets (Dec. 19)
• Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks (Dec. 19)
• Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors (Dec. 16)
• Detroit Pistons at Chicago Bulls (Dec. 14)

Six head coaches are in well being and security protocols: Mike Budenholzer (Milwaukee Bucks), Nate McMillan (Atlanta Hawks), Tyronn Lue (Los Angeles Clippers), Doc Rivers (Philadelphia), Michael Malone (Denver) and Mark Daigneault (Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder).

Six extra coaches — Chauncey Billups (Portland Path Blazers), Rick Carlisle (Indiana Pacers), Alvin Gentry (Sacramento Kings), Frank Vogel (Los Angeles Lakers), Billy Donovan (Bulls) and Monty Williams (Phoenix Suns) — entered protocols in December and have since cleared.  

The Raptors performed two December dwelling video games at 50% capability and, as of Dec. 31, can enable not more than 1,000 individuals to enter Scotiabank Enviornment, per a provincial mandate. The team expects the restrict to be in place for the following three weeks, and, as such, are taking part in in a virtually empty arena.

Beneath is a often up to date, team-by-team listing of gamers in well being and security protocols, together with the date (or, in some instances, the approximate date) they entered:

Gamers in well being and security protocols

Atlanta Hawks

• Bogdan Bogdanovic (Dec. 28)
• Gorgui Dieng (Dec. 28)
• Jalen Johnson (Dec. 26)
• John Collins (Dec. 26)

Boston Celtics

Charlotte Hornets

• Vernon Carey Jr. (Jan. 1)

Chicago Bulls

• Marko Simonovic (Dec. 29)

Cleveland Cavaliers

Dallas Mavericks

• Kristaps Porzingis (Jan. 3)
• Isaiah Thomas (Dec. 30)
• Boban Marjanovic (Dec. 29)
• JaQuori McLaughlin (Dec. 23)

Denver Nuggets

• Monte Morris (Dec. 31)
• Jeff Inexperienced (Dec. 30)
• Zeke Nnaji (Dec. 30)

Detroit Pistons

Houston Rockets

• Usman Garuba (Jan. 3)
• Armoni Brooks (Jan. 2)
• DeJon Jarreau (Dec. 30)

Indiana Pacers

• Goga Bitadze (Jan. 2)
• Caris LeVert (Jan. 2)
• T.J. Warren (Jan. 2)
• Kelan Martin (Dec. 31)
• Chris Duarte (Dec. 30)
• Isaiah Jackson (Dec. 30)

Los Angeles Clippers

• Luke Kennard (Jan. 1)
• Ivica Zubac (Dec. 30)
• Brandon Boston Jr. (Dec. 29)

Memphis Grizzlies

• Kyle Anderson (Jan. 2)
• Xavier Tillman (Dec. 30)
• John Konchar (Dec. 28)
• Dillon Brooks (Dec. 26)
• De’Anthony Melton (Dec. 26)

Miami Warmth

• Marcus Garrett (Dec. 30)
• Duncan Robinson (Dec. 30)
• Gabe Vincent (Dec. 29)
• Udonis Haslem (Dec. 28)

Milwaukee Bucks

• Grayson Allen (Jan. 4)
• Pat Connaughton (Jan. 4)
• Jordan Nwora (Jan. 3)
• Thanasis Antetokounmpo (Jan. 1)
• Semi Ojeleye (Dec. 30)

New Orleans Pelicans

• Tomas Satoransky (Jan. 2)

Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder

• Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (Dec. 27)

Orlando Magic

• Markelle Fultz (Jan. 1)
• Robin Lopez (Dec. 30)

Philadelphia 76ers

• Paul Reed (Jan. 4)
• Tyrese Maxey (Jan. 3)
• Matisse Thybulle (Jan. 3)
• Jaden Springer (Jan. 2)
• Myles Powell (Dec. 30)

Phoenix Suns

• Landry Shamet (Jan. 4)
• JaVale McGee (Dec. 30)
• Abdel Nader (Dec. 29)
• Deandre Ayton (Dec. 27)
• Jae Crowder (Dec. 26)

Portland Path Blazers

• Larry Nance Jr. (Jan. 4)
• Cody Zeller (Dec. 26)

Sacramento Kings

• Chimezie Metu (Jan. 4)
• Richaun Holmes (Jan. 1)

San Antonio Spurs

• Doug McDermott (Jan. 1)
• Lonnie Walker (Jan. 1)
• Devontae Cacok (Dec. 29)

Toronto Raptors

• Svi Mykhailiuk (Jan. 4)
• Yuta Watanabe (Jan. 4)

Utah Jazz

Washington Wizards

• Tremont Waters (Jan. 3)
• Anthony Gill (Jan. 2)
• Brad Wanamaker (Dec. 31)
• Rui Hachimura (Dec. 28)
• Montrezl Harrell (Dec. 28)