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Wednesday’s game between the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies has been postponed as the NBA conducts contact tracing as part of its COVID-19 protocol for the 2020-21 regular season. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski delivered the news prior to the evening slate of games.
Portland-Memphis is postponed tonight because of contact tracing, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 20, 2021
The New York Times writer Marc Stein followed Wojnarowski’s message on social media with an official release from the NBA office.
The NBA has officially announced its 16th postponement this season: Memphis at Portland tonight is off ... pic.twitter.com/w7R9TQYwdJ
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 20, 2021
According to the release from the NBA, the contact tracing is focuses on the Grizzlies at this time. The Grizzlies last played on Monday against the Suns. Prior to that, on Jan. 16, the Grizzlies faced the 76ers. On Jan. 17, the Sixers’ game with the Thunder was postponed as part of the NBA’s COVID-19 protocol.
Wednesday’s game marks the first of a two-game series between the Blazers and Grizzlies. The second meeting is currently scheduled for Friday, Jan. 22. Once the Grizzlies depart Portland, the Blazers are set to face the Knicks on Sunday. The Blazers are currently in the middle of a seven-game homestand.
This is the first postponement that the Trail Blazers have been a part of in the 2020-21 regular season.
Update:
Following the initial news, Trail Blazers digital reporter Casey Holdahl revealed that the Blazers are not undergoing any enhanced contact tracing from the league. According to Holdahl, the Blazers players have been tested twice a day during this current stretch of home games.
FWIW I’ve heard nothing of any current contract tracing with regard to the Blazers. Team has been getting tested twice a day recently and haven’t been on the road in a week.
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) January 20, 2021