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The NBA announced Sunday afternoon that the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder will be postponed due to the coronavirus. Due to contact tracing, the 76ers were left without the league minimum of eight players.
The league's official announcement of its 14th postponement ... mandated tonight because Philadelphia has too many players undergoing contract tracing pic.twitter.com/EZzMmr5yge
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 17, 2021
The Sixers coronavirus woes started on January 7th, when shooting guard and former Blazer Seth Curry tested positive. Since then, several other players have been held out due to coronavirus protocols. Currently, Joel Embiid is out due to knee pain, and Mike Scott is out due to knee swelling.
The Sixers had four players — Mike Scott, Joel Embiid, Seth Curry and Vincent Poirier — stay home this weekend, so at least six players are in contact tracing today. Philly played in Memphis last night. https://t.co/DDKxBnSNCh
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) January 17, 2021
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the contact tracing is a result of the game against Memphis.
The Sixers postponement is due to contact tracing connected with the game against the Grizzlies on Saturday night, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 17, 2021
Given that Philadelphia played Memphis, the situation could have some bearing on the Portland Trail Blazers’ future schedule. The Blazers are due to play the Grizzlies twice this upcoming week in Portland.