NBA says no players were Covid-19 positive in past week


Daniel Theis of the Boston Celtics is introduced before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on December 30, 2020 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP

No new NBA players from among 495 tested since last Thursday have returned positive Covid-19 results, the league announced Wednesday.

Any players returning a confirmed positive result would be isolated until they are cleared to return to team activities under Covid-19 safety guidelines agreed upon by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association.

Last week, the NBA announced two players from among 558 tested had returned positive Covid-19 tests.

The Houston Rockets were forced to postpone their season opener last Wednesday against Oklahoma City when they could not field a minimum eight players against the visiting Thunder.

The Rockets had seven players unable to take the court due to Covid-19 issues, either positive or inconclusive tests plus contact tracing.

Houston did manage to begin the 2020-21 campaign with losses at Portland and Denver. The Rockets are scheduled to finally play their home opener on Thursday against Sacramento.