Postponements Hit NBA as COVID-19 Concerns Intensify; Games of Cavs, 76ers, Nets Cancelled

(Photo : Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) ATLANTA, GEORGIA - Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after a review overturned an offensive foul and awarded him a three-point basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at State Farm Arena on November 22, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The deadly coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on the NBA, with COVID-19 outbreaks forcing the league to postpone multiple games on Sunday. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Brooklyn Nets got numerous positive tests this weekend, with the NBA opting to reschedule their games to another date.

Multiple games rescheduled as COVID-19 outbreak spreads

The NBA postponed Sunday's game between Cleveland and Atlanta after Denzel Valentine, RJ Nembhard, Jarrett Allen, Lamar Stevens, and Dylan Windler were placed by the Cavs on the league's health and safety protocols. They joined Isaac Okoro and Evan Mobley, who earlier tested positive for COVID-19 as well.

The Hawks were fortunate that game was postponed as one of their key players also returned a positive test for COVID-19. Star point guard Trae Young entered the league protocols after testing positive for the coronavirus. It is highly possible that Young could miss the Hawks' games against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, and even the much-anticipated Christmas Day showdown against the New York Knicks.

Philadelphia's game against New Orleans was also postponed after the 76ers had trouble finding eight players to field in that contest. Andre Drummond and Shake Milton tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend and were placed by the team on the NBA's health and safety protocols. Drummond and Milton joined Georges Niang in the COVID-19 list, bringing the number of Sixers players who are positive with the coronavirus at the moment to three.

That may not be much but several Sixers players also had injuries, with Joel Embiid, Danny Green and Tyrese Maxey all ruled questionable to see action against the Pelicans. Complicating things for the Sixers was the fact that their G-League players were in Las Vegas for the showcase, making it harder for Philadelphia to get call-ups into town quickly. That left the NBA with no other choice but to reschedule the Sixers' game against the Pelicans.

10 Nets players now in safety protocols

Brooklyn's bad luck with COVID-19 continued on Sunday with 10 Nets players now placed on the NBA's health and safety protocols. Among the players sidelined with the coronavirus are star players Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden. Irving, who is still unvaccinated, was just reinstated by the team because of the Nets' player shortage.

He needed to test negative for COVID-19 for five consecutive days to return to the Nets, but his comeback was derailed immediately with the positive diagnosis. The Nets managed to win two games this week with an undermanned squad. The COVID-19 outbreak finally prevented the Nets from fielding the required eight players, forcing the NBA to postpone their next two games against the Denver Nuggets and the Washington Wizards.