The NBA has postponed the game between the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies because of contact tracing, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
The contact tracing is focused on the Grizzlies’ side, as they don’t have the league-required eight players to proceed with the game.
The Grizzlies last played on Jan. 18 against the Phoenix Suns, but only center Jonas Valanciunas was listed out due to health and safety protocols.
It’s unknown if the contact tracing is linked to Valanciunas or other players who had possible close contact with someone else who tested positive.
The Trail Blazers and Grizzlies are scheduled to play next on Jan. 22, but if contact tracing continues, that game could also be in doubt.
This is now the 16th postponed game of the NBA season, as 21 out of 30 teams have had at least one postponement, notes Marc Stein of The New York Times.
The nine teams that haven’t been affected include the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference, and the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings in the Western Conference.
