Amid a COVID-19 outbreak that has sidelined 10 players, the NBA has postponed the Chicago Bulls‘ games against the Detroit Pistons and the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday and Thursday respectively.
These are the first postponements by the league this season.
The team confirmed Monday that backup forward Alize Johnson became the 10th player to enter the protocols, joining a list that includes stars Zach LaVine and DeMar Derozan. Also on it are Troy Brown Jr., Matt Thomas, Coby White, Javonte Green, Derrick Jones Jr., Ayo Dosunmu and Stanley Johnson.
That left the Bulls with the eight available players, the league minimum to field a team. That list includes two players on two-way contracts in Devon Dotson and Tyler Cook, another signed to a 10-day contract last week in Alfonzo McKinnie, and rookie Marko Simonovic, who has played most of the season in the G League.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Chicago Department of Public Health had concerns about the Bulls continuing play this week, which played a part in the NBA’s decision to postpone games.
The Bulls are third in the Eastern Conference with a 17-10 record, their next scheduled game is now Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers. Dates for the postponed games have not yet been set.
— With files from the Associated Press
