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Tim BontempsESPN
BOSTON – The Boston Celtics may find themselves extremely short-sighted for their game against the Miami Heat at TD Garden on Sunday due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
In the team’s latest injury report, which was released on Saturday around 17:30 ET, nine of the team’s 17 players were listed – seven of them due to positive COVID-19 tests or contact detection as a result, including stars Jaylen Brown. and Jayson Tatum.
However, the Washington Wizards were without Bradley Beal on Saturday night for their home game against the Miami Heat due to health and safety protocols. He was placed there due to contact tracing with Tatum, a source confirmed that The Athletic reported to ESPN.
The two natives of St. Louis – who is good friends and has the same trainer, Drew Hanlen – spent much of the game guarding each other and then having a conversation in court.
Washington has already played three teams this week – the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and the Celtics – which have had positive Tests and several players in the minutes.
In addition to the three Celtics who had to fight for Friday’s victory over Washington – Robert Williams III, who tested positive, and Grant Williams and Tristan Thompson, who were away due to contact detection – four more appear in Saturday’s report: Tatum, who was listed as doubtful ; and Brown, Javonte Green and Semi Oeieye, who were all questionable.
If the seven, along with Romeo Langford (wrist) and Kemba Walker (knee), who are left out with injuries, cannot all play in Sunday’s game, Boston will be down to a minimum of eight available players. Miami. Six of the players – Marcus Smart, Jeff Teague, Payton Pritchard, Carsen Edwards, Tremont Waters and Aaron Nesmith – are custodians, in addition to centers Daniel Theis and Tacko Fall.