NBA postpones Bulls-Raptors and Nets-Trail Blazers games due to COVID-19 outbreaks
NBA commissioner Adam Silver vowed to keep playing out the 2021-22 season Wednesday, but the omicron variant is making that difficult. The NBA postponed two games Thursday due to COVID-19 outbreaks across the league.
The Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors game — which was supposed to be played Thursday — was postponed after multiple Raptors players entered health and safety protocols. The NBA also postponed the Brooklyn Nets and Portland Trail Blazers game — originally scheduled for Thursday — due to the Nets not having enough players available.
A number of Nets players entered the league's health and safety protocols Dec. 14. The outbreak continued within the team, with Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving eventually getting placed in the protocols.
The Raptors are dealing with a similar issue. At least six players were placed in the league's health and safety protocols since Saturday, leading to the postponement.
The Bulls had games postponed in mid-December as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak. The team returned to action against the the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. The Bulls remained healthy enough to play the Houston Rockets on Monday. Chicago won both contests.
No plans to stop NBA season
The NBA postponed a number of games as COVID-19 sweeps through the league. In addition to the Bulls games and Thursday's postponements, at least five other NBA games were canceled as a result of COVID-19.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday there were no plans to stop the NBA season. Additional postponements could be an option, as six members of the Dallas Mavericks, including Luka Doncic, are in the league's health and safety protocols.
