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Tim BontempsESPN
BOSTON – The Boston Celtics could be extremely tight for their game against the Miami Heat at TD Garden on Sunday due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
The team’s latest injury report, released Saturday around 5:30 p.m. ET, listed nine of the team’s 17 players – seven of them due to positive COVID-19 testing or contact tracking as a result, including stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
The Washington Wizards, meanwhile, were without Bradley Beal ahead of their home game against the Miami Heat Saturday night due to health and safety protocols. He was placed there as a result of contact tracking with Tatum, a source confirmed a report from The Athletic to ESPN.
The two St. Louis residents – who are good friends and share the same trainer, Drew Hanlen – spent much of the game guarding each other and then had a conversation on the field.
Washington has already played three teams this week – the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and the Celtics – that have had positive tests and multiple players in the protocols.
In addition to the three Celtics to sit out Friday’s win over Washington – Robert Williams III, who tested positive, and Grant Williams and Tristan Thompson, who were out for contact tracking – four more appeared in Saturday’s report: Tatum, who was mentioned as doubtful; and Brown, Javonte Green and Semi Ojeleye, all of which were questionable.
If those seven – along with Romeo Langford (wrist) and Kemba Walker (knee), who remain injured – are all deemed unable to play in Sunday’s game, Boston would have the bare minimum of eight players available. Miami. Six of those players – Marcus Smart, Jeff Teague, Payton Pritchard, Carsen Edwards, Tremont Waters and Aaron Nesmith – are guards, in addition to Daniel Theis and Tacko Fall centers.