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Tim BontempsESPN
BOSTON – The Boston Celtics could be found extremely abbreviated for their game against the Miami Heat at TD Garden on Sunday as a result of NBA safety and health protocols.
In the latest team injury report, released around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, nine of the team’s 17 players were enrolled, seven of them due to COVID-19 testing. positive or follow-up contacts as a result of them, including stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
The Washington Wizards, meanwhile, were without Bradley Beal for their home game against the Miami Heat on Saturday night due to health and safety protocols. He was placed there as a result of tracking 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 watching each other and having a conversation on the court afterwards.
Washington has already played three teams this week – the Brooklyn Nets, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Celtics – that have had positive tests and several players in the protocols.
In addition to the three Celtics who had to win Friday’s win over Washington – Robert Williams III, who tested positive, and Grant Williams and Tristan Thompson, who had been due to follow-up contacts – four others 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 are still out with injuries, are considered unable to play in Sunday’s game, Boston would be left with at least eight players available to face Miami. Six of those players – Marcus Smart, Jeff Teague, Payton Pritchard, Carsen Edwards, Tremont Waters and Aaron Nesmith – are on guard, in addition to centers Daniel Theis and Tacko Fall.