BOSTON – The Boston Celtics could find themselves extremely short for their game against the Miami Heat at TD Garden on Sunday as a result of NBA health and safety protocols.
In the latest team injury report, released around 5:30 pm ET on Saturday, nine of the team’s 17 players were on the roster, seven of them due to positive tests from COVID- 19th contact tracking as a result of them, including stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Meanwhile, the Washington Wizards did not count on Bradley Beal for their Miami game against the Heat on Saturday night due to health and safety protocols. He was placed there as a result of tracking down contacts with Tatum, a source confirmed to a report by The Athletic on ESPN.
The two St. Louis natives, who are close friends and share the same coach, Drew Hanlen, spent much of the game protecting and had a conversation on the court after the game.
Washington has already played against three teams this week, the Brooklyn Nets, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Celtics, who have had positive tests and several players in the protocols.
In addition to the three Celtics who had to stay out of Friday’s win over Washington, Robert Williams III, who tested positive, and Grant Williams and Tristan Thompson, who were out due to contact tracking, others four appeared in Saturday’s report: Tatum, who was listed as doubtful, and Brown; Javonte Green and Semi Ojeleye, all questionable.
If those seven, along with Romeo Langford (wrist) and Kemba Walker (knee), who remain out due to injury, are considered unable to play in Sunday’s game, Boston would be left with at least eight players available to face. Miami. Six of these players (Marcus Smart, Jeff Teague, Payton Pritchard, Carsen Edwards, Tremont Waters and Aaron Nesmith) are escorts, in addition to pivots Daniel Theis and Tacko Fall.