Sunday’s Heat-Celtics postponed because of COVID-19 protocols. What’s next for Heat?
As the NBA season continues amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the league was forced to postpone the Miami Heat’s road game against the Boston Celtics scheduled for Sunday night at TD Garden.
The Heat learned earlier Sunday that guard Avery Bradley would not be available for its game in Boston because of the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Bradley, 30, scored five points and grabbed three rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench in Saturday’s road win over the Washington Wizards.
While Bradley was the first Heat player deemed unavailable Sunday because of the protocols, it was later decided that there were enough Heat players who would also be forced to miss the game because of an ongoing contact tracing investigation to force the postponement of Sunday night’s contest.
The NBA requires teams to have eight available players to proceed with games.
“I think this right now is a reflection of the virus everywhere in the states,” coach Erik Spoelstra said Saturday of the NBA’s recent COVID-19 spike, with the Heat staying in Boston overnight as the team expects some clarity from the league soon on how to proceed. “The numbers are spiking. That is the reality. We are committed to proceeding with our industry. Now we’re doing it with all of the best science and adherence to the protocols, but it is sobering because ultimately we’re not in control.”
In a press release to announce the news Sunday, the NBA wrote: “The National Basketball Association game scheduled for tonight between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics at TD Garden has been postponed in accordance with the league’s Health and Safety Protocols.
“Because of ongoing contact tracing with the Heat, the team does not have the league-required eight available players to proceed with tonight’s game against the Celtics.”
The Heat said in a statement issued on social media that it’s postponed game against the Celtics “will be rescheduled for a later date.” The NBA only released the first half of the regular-season schedule, which runs until March 4, and the second-half schedule will include the remainder of each team’s 72 games not scheduled in the first half and any games postponed during the first half that can “reasonably be added” to the second half.
Players out because of contract tracing are expected to be sidelined for seven days in most cases, with the Heat scheduled to play three games over the next week: Tuesday at Philadelphia 76ers, Thursday at 76ers and Saturday vs. Detroit Pistons.
While the NBA had to make an immediate decision late Sunday afternoon on the fate of the Heat’s game against the Celtics because tip-off was just a few hours away, the league is still investigating how many of Miami’s players were actually close contacts to an infected individual.
Boston was also right on the line of the eight-player minimum entering Sunday’s contest mostly because of players testing positive for COVID-19 and contact tracing related to the league’s health and safety protocols.
The Celtics ruled out nine players for Sunday’s game, which means they were on track to have just eight available players against the Heat.
Boston ruled out All-Star forward Jayson Tatum because of health and safety protocols. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Saturday that Tatum was expected to enter quarantine and miss 10 to 14 days.
The Celtics were also set to be without Robert Williams, who The Boston Globe reported tested positive for COVID-19, and forwards Tristan Thompson and Grant Williams because of contact tracing.
In addition, the Celtics ruled out Jaylen Brown, Javonte Green and Semi Ojeleye because of health and safety protocols.
Boston also wouldn’t have had Kemba Walker (left knee injury recovery) and Romeo Langford (right wrist surgery) for Sunday’s game against the Heat.
The Heat and Celtics aren’t the only NBA teams dealing with COVID-19 issues right now.
The 76ers are currently without guard Seth Curry, who reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. Philadelphia had to play Saturday’s game against the Denver Nuggets with only eight active players in part because Tobias Harris, Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle and Vincent Poirier were unavailable reportedly because of contact tracing.
Also, the Dallas Mavericks had to shut down their practice facility on Sunday after forward Maxi Kleber tested positive for COVID-19, the team’s second positive test in three days, according to ESPN.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass said to Sopan Deb from the New York Times on Sunday: “We anticipated that there would be game postponements this season and planned this season accordingly. There are no plans to pause the season. We will continue to be guided by our medical experts and our health and safety protocols.”
Sunday’s game between the Heat and Celtics is the second that has been postponed because of COVID-19 issues since the regular season began on Dec. 22. A game between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder was postponed on Dec. 23 because the Rockets did not have the league-required eight available players.
The Heat stands at 4-4 this season, with its season now on hold.
“It’s just crazy the times we’re living in right now with everything that’s going on,” Heat guard Tyler Herro said Saturday. “It’s a crazy season. My rookie year, we had a bubble. My second year, now we’re kind of in a bubble but not in a bubble at the same time. It’s just crazy, that’s really all I can say. ... That’s the time we’re living in right now and we have to stay safe. Wear your mask and hopefully not get to close to anybody on the court who may have the virus.”
This story was originally published January 10, 2021 at 4:54 PM.
