Raptors' COVID-19 issues worsen, forcing postponement of Sunday game against Bulls - CBC.ca

The NBA called off the Toronto Raptors game against visiting Chicago on Sunday night in Tampa due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

The league said the Raptors are dealing with positive test results, and combined with contact tracing issues, wouldn't have the league-required eight players available for the game.

Toronto was missing head coach Nick Nurse, five members of his staff and star forward Pascal Siakam for Friday's 122-111 victory over Houston.

The Raptors-Bulls game is the 30th to be postponed so far this season because of COVID-19 testing or contact tracing but the first time Toronto has had to reschedule. Three NBA teams haven't had a game postponed.

Toronto used 12 players on Friday and had 14 listed as available to play. For Sunday's game, Siakam was the only player who had been listed on Saturday's injury report as out because of health and safety protocols, which indicates results returned Saturday either showed more problems, or the contact tracing investigations showed players had been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and may have to quarantine.

The names of players or staff members affected were not revealed.

WATCH | Lowry leads Nurse, Siakam-less Raps past Rockets:

Toronto defeats Houston 122-111, Nick Nurse and 5 other members of the coaching staff along with Pascal Siakam were not at the game because of health and safety protocols. 1:23

Players and staff are tested twice daily.

The Raptors announced Nurse and most of his staff would miss Friday's game a few hours before tip-off.

At the time, Toronto general manager Bobby Webster said it wasn't clear Siakam's situation was linked to the coaches.

"The NBA is being extremely careful here," Webster said. "It's early in what's going on here, so I think we're all being conscientious and not taking any risks.... We'll see what tomorrow brings us."

WATCH | CBC Sports' Vivek Jacob discusses Fred VanVleet's all-star snub:

Vivek Jacob is joined by Raptors reporter William Lou, to discuss Fred VanVleet not being selected to the 2021 All-Star Game and the Raptors getting back to the .500 mark after a slow 2-8 start to the season. 4:40

The Raptors' staff was already shorthanded, given Chris Finch left the team earlier this week to become head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Adrian Griffin, Jama Mahlalela and Jon Goodwillie make up the remainder of Nurse's coaching staff.

The Raptors are scheduled to host Detroit on Tuesday at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., before wrapping up its first-half schedule on Thursday in Boston. They are playing home games in Florida due to Canada's border regulations around COVID-19, and health and safety measures in Toronto.

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2021-02-28 16:54:55Z
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