Toronto, facing positive virus tests, cancels game with Chicago
By admin - February 28, 2021

The Toronto Raptors’ issues with the coronavirus are worsening, prompting the NBA to call off their game scheduled for Sunday night against the Chicago Bulls. Here are the highlights:

  • The league says the Raptors are dealing with a slew of positive test results.
  • Toronto played Friday without head coach Nick Nurse, several other assistants and staffers and starting forward Pascal Siakam due to virus-related issues. Assistant coach Sergio Scariolo coached the team to a win over Houston and was in line to coach again Sunday.
  • All NBA players and coaches are tested daily. The Raptors used 12 players on Friday and had 14 listed as available to play that night. For Sunday’s game, Siakam was the only player who had been listed on Saturday’s injury report as out because of health and safety protocols — which indicates that results that came back on Saturday either showed more problems, or the contact tracing investigations showed that players had been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and may have to quarantine.
  • The Raptors-Bulls game is the 30th to be postponed so far this season because of COVID-19 testing or contact tracing.
  • Chicago had traveled to Tampa on Saturday for the game and after the postponement was announced changed its travel plans to fly back home Sunday afternoon. The Bulls are scheduled to play Monday at home against Denver.
  • Toronto’s next game is scheduled to be Tuesday against Detroit.