Doc Rivers
Photo: Associated Press

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers entered the health and safety protocols along with two Sixers’ players, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Rivers became the 7th NBA head coach to enter NBA COVID protocols. Assistant coach Dan Burke is expected to fill in for Rivers during his absence, starting with Thursday night’s game against the Brooklyn Nets.

The Sixers are 18-16 this season, having faced a lot of adversity due to COVID. On Monday, the NBA and the NBPA agreed to new rules allowing vaccinated coaches and players that test positive to return after just six days.

Many Sixers players have either been symptom-free or experienced mild COVID reactions, but Joel Embiid admitted he had a rough time with the virus. The two last players to enter the NBA protocols are Tyler Johnson and Myles Powell.