NBA COVID tracker: Celtics’ Jayson Tatum, Warriors’ Draymond Green, Heat’s Kyle Lowry enter protocols

More than 100 players are currently in the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols, and the uptick in cases has led to several postponed games this month. The number has moved to nine after the league postponed the game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Portland Trail Blazers, originally scheduled last Thursday, and the game between the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors, originally scheduled Wednesday. Brooklyn and Toronto are both dealing with outbreaks, and, even with reinforcements on 10-day contracts, couldn’t reach the league-mandated minimum of eight available players.

In an attempt to limit postponements, the league and the National Basketball Players Association have reportedly agreed to new rules about signing replacement players, and the two sides have also agreed to temporarily tighter protocols that call for more testing and stricter mask requirements from Dec. 26 to Jan. 8, according to ESPN and The Athletic.

On Monday, Celtics forward Jayson Tatum became the latest star player to enter protocols. The Heat’s Kyle Lowry and Warriors’ Draymond Green entered protocols over the holiday weekend. Last week, Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks landed in protocols.

James Harden is among six Nets who have recently cleared protocols. Heading into their Christmas Day game against the Lakers, however, they still had seven players in protocols, including stars Kevin Durant and the unvaccinated Kyrie Irving, who will rejoin the team when he’s cleared but will not be permitted to play games in New York or Toronto. 

The Celtics, meanwhile, had nine players in protocols for their Christmas game against the Milwaukee Bucks, and the recently cleared Al Horford missed that game so he can get his conditioning up to speed. Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis and Donte DiVincenzo were all available to play against Boston, having recently cleared protocols. 

Postponed games in 2021-22 season

• Brooklyn Nets at Portland Trail Blazers (originally scheduled for 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)

The NBA and the NBPA are reportedly near an agreement that would allow some (asymptomatic, non-infectious) players to clear protocols as soon as six days after they test positive. Under the current protocols, if any player tests positive for COVID-19, he must immediately isolate until 10 days have passed from that test or the onset of symptoms, or until he tests negative on two PCR tests 24 hours apart. 

Players who are not fully vaccinated must enter health and safety protocols if they are found to be a close contact of a person who has tested positive. Since Dec. 17, players who have not received a booster shot have been subject to tighter restrictions, including game-day testing. 

Suns coach Monty Williams and Blazers coach Chauncey Billups entered protocols on Monday, joining Lakers coach Frank Vogel and Bulls coach Billy Donovan.

Toronto announced on Dec. 15 that it would play its home games at 50 percent capacity, and this policy took effect on Dec. 18 against the Golden State Warriors. No other NBA team has taken such a measure this season. 

Below is a regularly updated, team-by-team list of players in health and safety protocols, along with the date they entered:

Players in health and safety protocols

Atlanta Hawks

• Jalen Johnson (Dec. 26)
• John Collins (Dec. 26)
• Wes Iwundu (Dec. 24)
• Sharife Cooper (Dec. 23)
• Kevin Huerter (Dec. 22)
• Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (Dec. 22)
• Lou Williams (Dec. 22)
• Danilo Gallinari (Dec. 21)
• Trae Young (Dec. 19)

Boston Celtics

• Jayson Tatum (Dec. 27)
• Dennis Schroder (Dec. 25)
• Bruno Fernando (Dec. 24)
• Justin Jackson (Dec. 24)
• CJ Miles (Dec. 24)
• Aaron Nesmith (Dec. 24)
• Enes Kanter Freedom (Dec. 23)
• Josh Richardson (Dec. 19)
• Sam Hauser (Dec. 17)
• Grant Williams (Dec. 17)

Brooklyn Nets

• Kessler Edwards (Dec. 23)
• Cam Thomas (Dec. 23)
• David Duke Jr. (Dec. 23)
• Kevin Durant (Dec. 18)
• Kyrie Irving (Dec. 18)
• Day’Ron Sharpe (Dec. 18)
• LaMarcus Aldridge (Dec. 14)

Charlotte Hornets

• Miles Bridges (Dec. 26)
• PJ Washington (Dec. 26)
• Cody Martin (Dec. 19)

Chicago Bulls

• Lonzo Ball (Dec. 26)

Cleveland Cavaliers

• Ed Davis (Dec. 21)
• Jarrett Allen (Dec. 19)
• RJ Nembhard (Dec. 19)
• Lamar Stevens (Dec. 19) 
• Denzel Valentine (Dec. 19) 
• Dylan Windler (Dec. 19) 
• Evan Mobley (Dec. 18)
• Isaac Okoro (Dec. 16)

Dallas Mavericks

• Luka Doncic (Dec. 22)
• Trey Burke (Dec. 22)
• Tim Hardaway Jr. (Dec. 21)
• Maxi Kleber (Dec. 20)
• Reggie Bullock (Dec. 18)

Denver Nuggets

• Bol Bol (Dec. 17)
• Michael Porter Jr. (Dec. 17)

Detroit Pistons

• Killian Hayes (Dec. 23)
• Saben Lee (Dec. 23)
• Rodney McGruder (Dec. 23)
• Isaiah Stewart (Dec. 23)
• Cade Cunningham (Dec. 22)

Golden State Warriors

• Draymond Green (Dec. 26)
• Moses Moody (Dec. 24)
• Damion Lee (Dec. 22)
• Andrew Wiggins (Dec. 19)
• Jordan Poole (Dec. 17)

Los Angeles Clippers

• Reggie Jackson (Dec. 22)
• Marcus Morris Sr. (Dec. 18)

Los Angeles Lakers

• Rajon Rondo (Dec. 26)
• Trevor Ariza (Dec. 23)
• Kent Bazemore (Dec. 19)
• Austin Reaves (Dec. 17)

Memphis Grizzlies

• Jarrett Culver (Dec. 23)
• Ziaire Williams (Dec. 19)

Miami Heat

• Kyle Lowry (Dec. 25)

Milwaukee Bucks

• JaQuori McLaughlin (Dec. 23) 

Minnesota Timberwolves

• D’Angelo Russell (Dec. 25)
• Karl-Anthony Towns (Dec. 23)
• McKinley Wright IV (Dec. 23)
• Patrick Beverley (Dec. 20)
• Jarred Vanderbilt (Dec. 20)
• Josh Okogie (Dec. 19)
• Anthony Edwards (Dec. 17)
• Taurean Prince (Dec. 17)

New Orleans Pelicans

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Dec. 23)
• Naji Marshall (Dec. 23)

New York Knicks

• Jericho Sims (Dec. 25)
• Nerlens Noel (Dec. 22)
• Miles McBride (Dec. 18)

Orlando Magic

• Mychal Mulder (Dec. 22)
• Mo Bamba (Dec. 17)
• Terrence Ross (Dec. 17)
• Moe Wagner (Dec. 17)
• Ignas Brazdeikis (Dec. 16)

Philadelphia 76ers

• Danny Green (Dec. 22)
• Andre Drummond (Dec. 19)
• Shake Milton (Dec. 19)
• Georges Niang (Dec. 15)

Phoenix Suns

• Jae Crowder (Dec. 26)
• Elfrid Payton (Dec. 26)

Portland Trail Blazers

• Jusuf Nurkic (Dec. 26)
• Cody Zeller (Dec. 26)
• Robert Covington (Dec. 25)
• Ben McLemore (Dec. 25)
• Keljin Blevins (Dec. 25)
• Dennis Smith Jr. (Dec. 24)
• Trendon Watford (Dec. 24)

Sacramento Kings

• Neemias Queta (Dec. 21)
• Davion Mitchell (Dec. 17)
• De’Aaron Fox (Dec. 16)
• Louis King (Dec. 16)   
• Alex Len (Dec. 16)
• Marvin Bagley III (Dec. 15)
• Terence Davis (Dec. 15)

San Antonio Spurs

• Dejounte Murray (Dec. 26)

Toronto Raptors

• OG Anunoby (Dec. 22)
• Fred VanVleet (Dec. 21)
• Precious Achiuwa (Dec. 21)
• Scottie Barnes (Dec. 21)
• Malachi Flynn  (Dec. 21)
• Gary Trent Jr. (Dec. 20)
• Dalano Banton (Dec. 18)
• Pascal Siakam (Dec. 18)

Washington Wizards

• Bradley Beal (Dec. 23)
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Dec. 21)