NBA stars sidelined due to health protocols as season goes on amid pandemic
MANILA, Philippines — The new NBA season is in full swing, but the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is still greatly affecting its operations.
This as multiple NBA players from across the league continue to miss games due to health protocols as contact tracing continues outside of a "bubble" set-up.
Just last Thursday (Friday in Manila), the whole Philadelphia 76ers squad was forced to quarantine after their game against the Brooklyn Nets, after Seth Curry tested positive for the virus during the game.
Though Curry was immediately put into isolation, the Sixers guard was already on the bench and had interacted with his teammates prior to the result.
This resulted in an undermanned 76ers team playing on Saturday (Sunday, Manila time) against the Denver Nuggets with only seven players available.
A total of nine players were out for the 76ers for various reasons, with Tobias Harris, Shake Milton, and Matisse Thybulle out due to protocols.
But it isn't just the Sixers affected, with many other teams also missing their stars because of the protocols in place.
For the Boston Celtics, 22-year-old star Jayson Tatum is reportedly expected to miss 10-14 days. Though he is listed as "doubtful" in their game against the Miami Heat on Sunday (Monday in Manila).
Jaylen Brown, on the other hand, remains "questionable" against the Heat because of the same protocols. Tristan Thompson, on the other hand, is out for Sunday's (Monday) game.
Another star who has been forced out of action because of the health crisis is Michael Porter Jr., who has already been in the protocol since last week, is reportedly out "indefinitely" and is still being tested daily for the coronavirus.
Washington Wizards' Bradley Beal, who had been stringing great outings this week which included a career-high 60 points, has also been stymied and missed Washington's game earlier today.
Other players who have notably been sidelined are Dallas' Jalen Brunson, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Josh Richardson, as well as the Brooklyn Nets' Kevin Durant.
Last season, in the months-long bubble, the NBA was able to finish its season without a positive test among its players in Orlando, Florida.
But with less stringent measures in place as the players play through the season, the impact of the health crisis is fully felt by the basketball league.
How are sports bodies responding to the coronavirus pandemic? Follow this page for updates. Photo from AFP
Novak Djokovic declares on Saturday that he "likes his chances" of winning a record-extending 10th Australian Open crown, despite lingering injury worries.
After missing last year's tournament when he was deported over his Covid vaccination stance, the Serbian star is back at Melbourne Park and in sizzling form.
He ended the 2022 season by winning the ATP Finals and began the new year with his 92nd career title at the Adelaide International. — AFP
The tennis officials say former world number one Novak Djokovic arrived in Australia on Tuesday almost one year after he was deported for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The nine-time Australian Open champion was initially banned from the country for three years after losing a high-stakes legal battle in January over his vaccine status.
Australia has since lifted its requirement for visitors to show proof of vaccination against Covid. -- AFP
About 30,000 runners, some wearing face masks, took part on Sunday in a chilly and smoggy first Beijing Marathon since 2019 after Covid cancelled previous races.
It was the first major sporting event in the Chinese capital since the Winter Olympics in February.
China continues to adhere to a strict zero-Covid policy, with harsh lockdowns, quarantines and testing regimens imposed after even the smallest outbreaks.
As a result, only people living in Beijing were allowed to take part in the race, unlike previous editions, which had attracted foreign runners.
Some runners kept their face masks on for the race, which Anubaike Kuwan from Xinjiang won in two hours, 14 minutes and 34 seconds.
The marathon was meant to resume last year but was cancelled again to avoid any outbreaks of Covid ahead of the Beijing Olympics. -- AFP
Visiting FIFA president Gianni Infantino pledges to help "reform and transform" Indonesian football, two weeks after the country suffered one of the worst disasters in the sport's history.
Infantino met President Joko Widodo in the capital Jakarta, a year before the Under-20 World Cup is due to be held in the Southeast Asian nation.
"We will reform and transform football in this country", Infantino says, flanked by Widodo. — AFP
A tearful Roger Federer ends his historic career with defeat alongside long-time rival Rafael Nadal in a doubles match at the Laver Cup in the early hours of Saturday.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion, 41, and Nadal, playing for Team Europe, went down 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 9-11 against Team World's Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock. — AFP
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