AP source: Celtics-Heat game postponed over virus concerns

Sunday’s game between Boston and Miami was postponed because of contact tracing concerns within Heat, a person familiar with situation told Associated Press.

Celtics would have been without seven players for game in accordance with NBA’s health and safety protocols for dealing with COVID-19, all of m ruled out earlier Sunday — along with two ors because of injury. That would have left Boston with only eight available players, league minimum.

situation grew more complex as teams got closer to scheduled 7 p.m. tipoff. Heat ruled Avery Bradley out because of same protocols, and team was going through contact tracing to see if anyone else would t be eligible to play.

That process was still ongoing Sunday afteron, and given uncertainty — wher Heat would have to deem many players out or t — decision was made to postpone game, according to person who spoke to AP on condition of anymity because neir teams r league had anunced postponement publicly.

It is second game postponed in NBA this season. A game between Oklahoma City and Houston was postponed on Dec. 23 because Rockets did t have eugh eligible players to play — three had returned tests that were eir positive or inconclusive for coronavirus, four ors were quarantined, James Harden was unavailable for violating protocols and ar player was out with an injury. That left Houston with seven players.

Celtics on Sunday ruled out Jaylen Brown, Javonte Green, Semi Ojeleye, Jayson Tatum, Tristan Thompson, Grant Williams and Robert Williams because of protocols. That’s most any team has been without because of virus-related issues so far this season but does t necessarily mean any of affected Celtics tested positive.

Im credits: AP