Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN Sources: The NBA and NBPA have agreed on new protocols that would allow Covid-positive players to clear isolation after five days if “CT values” are above 30. That lowers threshold from seven days and CT values above 35.
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Shams Charania: Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons and replacement player Brandon Williams have entered health and safety protocols, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
Chris Haynes: Toronto Raptors will not host fans at Scotiabank Arena for at least the next three weeks starting Dec. 31. pic.twitter.com/PwSy8IWGSh
Anthony Chiang: The Heat has canceled this evening’s practice in Houston.
Shams Charania: Washington Wizards guard Spencer Dinwiddie has entered health and safety protocols, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium .
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Pacers have new cases, including Malcolm Brogdon, Chris Duarte and Isaiah Jackson entering Covid protocols, sources tell ESPN.
As the omicron variant rips through NBA players and coaches, it has reached a season-high among game officials: 36% of the league's referees are in COVID-19 protocols, sources told ESPN on Thursday. With 25 of the league's 70 active referees currently in quarantine, the league's been promoting G League referees to fill out the nightly roster of games, sources said.
There have been rare instances lately when only two referees -- instead of the standard three -- were available for games, but the NBA has continued to work to limit those occasions, sources said. The NBA G League has paused the season until Wednesday to allow for players and referees to be available to the NBA.
NBA referees are 100% vaccinated and are required to be fully boosted prior to Wednesday, sources said. Only a percentage of refs currently on road-trips haven't been boosted, but must do by Wednesday. Officials don't have the protections that teams do with charter flights and five-star hotels, but the NBA has been working with the National Basketball Referees Association on improvements related to travel -- including hotels -- that might serve to lessen exposure to the virus, sources said.
Omari Sanfoka II: No update on Cade Cunningham's status
Chase Hughes: Wizards' latest injury report has Beal, KCP and Gill listed as questionable. Hachimura, Neto, Harrell and Holiday remain out.
Justin Grasso: Danny Green remains out for tomorrow's game vs. #Nets Shake Milton has been upgraded to questionable and Andre Drummond has been cleared to play #Sixers
Jason Anderson: Sacramento Kings rookie guard Davion Mitchell has cleared NBA health and safety protocols. Rookie center Neemias Queta is still out.
Andrew Greif: Clippers G Reggie Jackson has cleared health and safety protocols and is rejoining team in Boston tonight but won’t play, sources told @latimessports. While there is hope he can be available at Toronto and Brooklyn, reconditioning is the next step after entering protocols 12/22.
Adrian Wojnarowski: This is the 10th NBA game postponed this season. Miami had a combination of Covid cases and injuries that left them short of eight available players.
Shams Charania: Mavericks center Boban Marjanovic and replacement guard Brandon Knight have entered health and safety protocols, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Dallas is planning to sign Isaiah Thomas to a hardship deal.
Tommy Beer: Knicks bigs Nerlens Noels and Jericho Sims remain out for tonight's game vs. Detroit. The Pistons have ruled out the following players due to Health and Safety Protocols: Cade Cunningham Isaiah Stewart Josh Jackson Killian Hayes Saben Lee Trey Lyles Rodney McGruder Cory Joseph
Kristian Winfield: Steve Nash on Kyrie Irving’s conditioning: “He looks great CONSIDERING he just came back from protocols.” Nash said Irving looks as good as he’s ever looked given the circumstances.
Kristian Winfield: Nets rookie Cam Thomas is back in the health and safety protocols, the Nets say.
Shams Charania: Sources: The NBA is adopting CDC guidance of five-day isolation exit for coronavirus-positive individuals — outside of team environment. For return to team activities, players must isolate for six days and meet testing requirements, or register two negative tests. After five-day isolation, positive players who are masked can now return to their team’s home market via commercial flight, interact in person with individuals in community, and enter indoor settings/establishments that are not the facility.
“No, I don’t have a response to Kareem at all,” James said. “And if you saw the post and you read the tag, you’re literally, honestly asking, ‘Help me out?’ Help me kind of figure it all out. We’re all trying to figure this pandemic out. We’re all trying to figure out COVID and the new strains and the flu. I think people forgot about the flu. People literally forgot about the flu during these times. Like, that’s still going around. This is flu season. So people have forgotten about the flu. People have forgotten about common colds. That happen, especially with a lot of our kids that are in school. My daughter is in first grade so a lot of these kids are getting common colds and getting the flu. “But, no. I don’t have any response to Kareem.”
Connor Letourneau: Andrew Wiggins and Andre Iguodala are good to go tonight.
Jason Anderson: Interim Kings coach Alvin Gentry says he thinks Davion Mitchell will be cleared to return tomorrow.
Ira Winderman: Max Strus just entered health and safety protocols. He is out tonight.
Joe Mussatto: Thunder assistant Dave Bliss is also in health and safety protocols. Bliss previously filled in for Mark Daigneault when Daigneault was away for the birth of his child. With both Daigneault and Bliss out, Mike Wilks is stepping in as head coach tonight.
Kyle Goon: David Fizdale said that he can say that Austin Reaves, who is past the 10-day mark of isolation, is “close” to returning, and there was discussion about the possibility he could join the Lakers on the trip. However as of now he’s still in LA and in the protocols system.
Kelsey Russo: #Cavs J.B. Bickerstaff said Isaac Okoro is available tonight.
Anthony Chiang: Spoelstra on potentially getting Lowry back sooner than expected with NBA's shorter quarantine period: "He is part of this new category of either super minor symptoms or asymptomatic. Then it's just a matter of testing and if he can get to a certain level."
Ava Wallace: Bradley Beal has received a covid-19 vaccine, according to multiple sources. He remains in health & safety protocols and will not play in Miami tonight.
Josh Lewenberg: While 11 of the Raptors' 16 players have been in COVID protocols this month (all of them fully vaccinated), Nurse notes that none have experienced more than minor symptoms. "I'm confident that once this thing passes this week we should be OK and get up to speed pretty quickly."
Fred VanVleet: Can’t wait to get back with the guys again 🙏🏽 trying to make sense of all the protocols but it is what it is! Feeling good see you soon. Let’s go @Toronto Raptors
Marc Berman: Anthony Edwards had workout this afternoon but still not ready for tonight. Patrick Beverley will play.
Dane Moore: Naz Reid has cleared COVID protocols and will play tonight against New York, says Chris Finch
Keith Pompey: There’s a good chance that #Sixers reserves Shake Milton and Andre Drummond could return in time for Thursday’s game at the #Nets. Tomorrow is Day 10 of their quarantine. But their return will depend on conditioning.
Tim MacMahon: John Konchar has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols, the Grizzlies announce. Konchar played well as a full-in starter in Memphis’ last two games.
Ira Winderman: Erik Spoelstra says he is hopeful of getting Kyle Lowry back sooner than previous 10-day waiting period, amid NBA protocol change.
Keith Pompey: Pascal Siakam, Gary Trent Jr and Malachi Flynn are back for the Raptors tonight vs. the #Sixers. The trio cleared protocols.
Jared Weiss: Celtics injury report for tomorrow vs. Clippers: Jayson Tatum, Bruno Fernando, Enes Freedom, Aaron Nesmith & CJ Miles - H&S Protocols - OUT Marcus Smart - Right Hand Laceration - QUESTIONABLE Dennis Schröder, Josh Richardson & Justin Jackson return from protocol.
James Ham: League source confirms that Alex Len has cleared health and safety protocols. He is still questionable to play tonight due to the extended layoff.
Fred Katz: Wayne Selden has entered health and safety protocols, Knicks say. He’s out for tonight in Minnesota.
Mike McGraw: Add Ersan Ilyasova to the #Bulls health and protocols list. Derrick Jones Jr. (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Wed's game vs. Atlanta
Adrian Wojnarowski: Toronto Raptors guard Malachi Flynn has cleared Covid protocols and will rejoin the team, sources tell ESPN. Flynn joins Pascal Siakam, Gary Trent Jr., and Khem Birch who recently tested out of protocols.
Joe Mussatto: Mark Daigneault has entered health and safety protocols, per the Thunder. Mike Wilks will serve as the acting head coach tonight in Sacramento. Dave Bliss previously filled in for Daigneault, so the Thunder will have its third head coach of the season.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland -- one of the season's revelations -- has entered into Covid protocols, sources tell ESPN.
Chris Fedor: I’m told #Cavs are hopeful Evan Mobley, who is out of protocols and didn’t have symptoms during his absence, will play tonight against New Orleans. But the plan is to first put him thru some stuff in pregame and then talk to him to see how he feels conditioning-wise.
Chris Vivlamore: Nate McMillan when I asked (again) if NBA should pause: “Of course I think that way, but it’s not up to me. The league is trying to keep this season going. Of course it’s really frustrating for us and a lot of other teams."
Fred Katz: Miles McBride is out of health and safety protocols, Knicks say. He’ll be with the team in Minnesota tonight.
Anthony Slater: Andrew Wiggins is cleared from health and safety protocols and not listed on the Warriors' injury report tomorrow against the Nuggets. Jordan Poole remains out. Wiggins quarantined in the Bay Area.
Andrew Greif: Ty Lue said Marcus Morris Sr. will have a minutes restriction in his return from covid protocols vs. Brooklyn.
Callie Caplan: Jason Kidd said 6 Mavs, including Luka, are still in COVID-19 protocol. But Reggie Bullock "is getting close to clearance" and plans to join team in Sacramento this week. Bullock was the first Mavs player to test positive in this outbreak, Dec. 18.
Shams Charania: Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole cleared health and safety protocols and returned to the Bay today, sources tell me and @Anthony Slater.
Eric Walden: Quin Snyder, on the Utah jazz being the last team without any players in the H&S protocols this season: "I don't feel any particular pride, I feel fortunate. We've tried to do the right things, but so have a lot of teams. … We're talking about an inevitability now."
Damichael Cole: Taylor Jenkins said with everything going on with COVID & the Grizzlies being on the 2nd night of a back to back, the team prepared virtually today. The staff used zoom to go over their rapport and put film on each player’s iPad before they offered input on the gameplan.
Barry Jackson: Heat TV analyst John Crotty has gone into health and safety protocols; Ruth Riley-Hunter will fill in alongside Eric Reid next few games, beginning tomorrow. The entire Heat broadcast team is coming off the road as a cautionary measure and to maintain maximum flexibility.
Tim Bontemps: Grant Williams is back and has no minutes restrictions, and the same situation for Al Horford, per Celtics coach Ime Udoka. Both have been unavailable due to COVID protocols for several games. Udoka has no update on Jayson Tatum's status, other than him entering them today.
Harrison Wind: Aaron Gordon (left hamstring soreness) and Bol Bol (health and safety protocols) are questionable for tomorrow at Warriors. Monte Morris (left knee soreness) is probable.
Dane Moore: Josh Okogie will return from COVID protocols for tonight's game, per Chris Finch. Patrick Beverley will not return tonight. But Chris Finch made it sound like a near certainty that Beverley will play on Tuesday against New York.
KC Johnson: Acting head coach Chris Fleming, via Zoom from Atlanta, said Billy Donovan had “mild symptoms at beginning” but “sounds like himself now and is excited to get back to work.” Shortened NBA quarantine time, as long as certain contagious thresholds are met, also applies to coaches.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Atlanta Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young has been cleared from Covid protocols and will return vs. the Chicago Bulls tonight, sources tell ESPN.
Neil Dalal: Wizards have upgraded Bradley Beal (protocols) to questionable for Tuesday night at Heat. Aaron Holiday joins Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Raul Neto, Anthony Gill, and Thomas Bryant as OUT in protocols. Rui Hachimura remains "questionable", but is not expected to play.
Jason Anderson: The Sacramento Kings are listing Alex Len (health and safety protocols) as questionable for Tuesday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Davion Mitchell and Neemias Queta are still out.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton has entered Covid protocols, sources tell ESPN.
Mike Vorkunov: NBA just implemented new protocol where players/coaches can clear isolation 6 days after a positive COVID test. CDC just announced people can leave quarantine after 5. CDC director told the AP they want to "safely continue to keep society functioning while following the science”
Rod Boone: Cody Martin has been cleared from health and safety protocols and is available for tonight's game against Houston. #Hornets get their top defender back.
The wave of positive COVID cases sweeping through the NBA hit the Rockets again on Monday with power forwards K.J. Martin and Jae’Sean Tate placed in health and safety protocols. That will also lead to the Rockets adding players with 10-day, hardship exemption contracts.
This reduction in quarantine time is expected to immediately impact the status of numerous players who are already in the league's health and safety protocols. For players, you're considered to have tested positive on Day Zero, so a player would actually be back to play on the seventh day if he meets this new standard. Data shows that boosted individuals continue to clear the virus out of their system at a far more rapid rate than those who aren't, league sources told ESPN.
The decision to shorten the quarantine to six days, sources said, is based upon expert research and data -- including the league's own -- that shows no one with a cycle threshold (CT) over 35 has shown to be infectious again after five or six days, sources said. CT measures how many times a test has to cycle to find the virus in an individual. For example, a 35 CT is fainter than a 20 CT. The NBA and NBPA has relied on data from its own infectious disease experts, the CDC and models and research in the United Kingdom.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Vaccinated NBA players and coaches can now clear quarantine after six days if Covid-testing data shows they’re no longer at risk to be infectious, according to a memo distributed to teams Monday and obtained by ESPN.
Adrian Wojnarowski: The NBA and NBPA agreement comes at a time when players are testing positive and heading into quarantine at an unprecedented rate -- 172 have entered Covid protocols in past two weeks, including a single-day high of 27 on Sunday.
John Karalis: Grant Williams is officially available tonight vs. Minnesota
