(Updated with the latest game postponements and list of players and coaches to enter protocols on December 30.)
The NBA is ramping up postponements due to several Covid-19 outbreaks. According to the NBA’s rules, a game can be postponed when a team has fewer than eight available players. That issue had largely been avoided due to the NBA’s hardship exemption, which allows teams to sign players to temporary roster spots in the event of an outbreak.
The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association have now agreed on rules that will allow additional replacement players for teams with players that have entered health and safety protocols. Teams will be allowed to sign a player to replace an existing player that has tested positive for Covid-19. Teams will also be required to sign a replacement player if they have two positive cases. Newly signed replacement players will not count towards the team’s salary cap or luxury tax.
In light of recent outbreaks, the NBA’s rules have been revised for the holiday season. Masks must now be worn in almost all circumstances during team activities. This includes during travel, when sitting on the bench during games, in the locker room, weight room and training room. Testing will also be increased from December 26 to January 8.
Postponed NBA Games
| Date | Home | Away | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 29 December 2021 | San Antonio Spurs | Miami Heat | AT&T Center |
| Thursday, 23 December 2021 | Portland Trail Blazers | Brooklyn Nets | Moda Center |
| Wednesday, 22 December 2021 | Chicago Bulls | Toronto Raptors | United Center |
| Tuesday, 21 December 2021 | Brooklyn Nets | Washington Wizards | Barclays Center |
| Monday, 20 December 2021 | Toronto Raptors | Orlando Magic | Scotiabank Arena |
| Sunday, 19 December 2021 | Philadelphia 76ers | New Orleans Pelicans | Wells Fargo Center |
| Sunday, 19 December 2021 | Atlanta Hawks | Cleveland Cavaliers | Philips Arena |
| Sunday, 19 December 2021 | Brooklyn Nets | Denver Nuggets | Barclays Center |
| Thursday, 16 December 2021 | Toronto Raptors | Chicago Bulls | Scotiabank Arena |
| Tuesday, 14 December 2021 | Chicago Bulls | Detroit Pistons | United Center |
Teams with Postponed Games
| Team | Number of Postponed Games |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn Nets | 3 |
| Chicago Bulls | 3 |
| Toronto Raptors | 3 |
| Washington Wizards | 1 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 1 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1 |
| Denver Nuggets | 1 |
| Detroit Pistons | 1 |
| Miami Heat | 1 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 1 |
| Orlando Magic | 1 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 1 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 1 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 1 |
Which NBA players are in COVID health and safety protocols right now?
| Team | Players/Coaches |
|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks | Bogdan Bogdanovic John Collins Sharife Cooper Gorgui Dieng Malik Ellison Danilo Gallinari Kevin Huerter Jalen Johnson Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot Onyeka Okongwu Lou Williams Delon Wright |
| Boston Celtics | Bruno Fernando Enes Kanter Freedom Justin Jackson CJ Miles Aaron Nesmith Dennis Schroder Josh Richardson Jayson Tatum |
| Brooklyn Nets | David Duke Jr. Kessler Edwards Day’Ron Sharpe |
| Charlotte Hornets | Miles Bridges Scottie Lewis PJ Washington |
| Chicago Bulls | Lonzo Ball Tony Bradley Billy Donovan (head coach) Ersan Ilyasova Alfonzo McKinnie |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Jarrett Allen Ed Davis Darius Garland Cedi Osman Lamar Stevens Dylan Windler |
| Dallas Mavericks | Reggie Bullock Trey Burke Luka Doncic Tim Hardaway Jr. Maxi Kleber JaQuori McLaughlin Boban Marjanovic Brandon Knight |
| Detroit Pistons | Cade Cunningham Killian Hayes Josh Jackson Cory Joseph Saben Lee Trey Lyles Rodney McGruder Isaiah Stewart |
| Golden State Warriors | Draymond Green Damion Lee Moses Moody |
| Houston Rockets | D.J. Augustin KJ Martin Garrison Matthews Jae’Sean Tate |
| Los Angeles Clippers | Reggie Jackson Jay Scrubb Brandon Boston |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Trevor Ariza Kent Bazemore Austin Reaves Rajon Rondo Frank Vogel (head coach) |
| Memphis Grizzlies | Dillon Brooks Jarrett Culver De’Anthony Melton Yves Pons Ziaire Williams |
| Miami Heat | Udonis Haslem Kyle Lowry Max Strus P.J. Tucker Gabe Vincent |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | D’Angelo Russell Karl-Anthony Towns Jarred Vanderbilt McKinley Wright IV |
| New Orleans Pelicans | Nickeil Alexander-Walker Jose Alvarado Naji Marshall |
| New York Knicks | Miles McBride Nerlens Noel Jericho Sims |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Darius Bazley Derrick Favors Josh Giddey Tre Mann Aleksej Pokusevski Jeremiah Robinson-Earl Mark Daigneault (head coach) |
| Orlando Magic | Mo Bamba Mychal Mulder Chuma Okeke Terrence Ross |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Andre Drummond Danny Green Shake Milton |
| Phoenix Suns | Deandre Ayton Jae Crowder Monty Williams (head coach) |
| Portland Trail Blazers | Chauncey Billups (head coach) Keljin Blevins Robert Covington Ben McLemore Jusuf Nurkic Dennis Smith Jr. Trendon Watford Cody Zeller |
| Sacramento Kings | Neemias Queta |
| San Antonio Spurs | Dejounte Murray |
| Toronto Raptors | OG Anunoby Scottie Barnes Isaac Bonga Justin Champagnie Fred VanVleet |
| Washington Wizards | Bradley Beal Thomas Bryant Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Anthony Gill Rui Hachimura Montrezl Harrell Aaron Holiday Raul Neto |
