The Nets defense team James Harden was among seven players participating in COVID-19 health and safety protocols as an outbreak broke out on their team over the past few days.
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The Nets made the announcement of Harden joining the protocols less than 60 minutes before kicking off against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.
Harden is one of seven Nets players included in the protocols in the past two days. Paul Millsap joined the protocols Monday. Earlier on Tuesday morning, the Nets included LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre Bembry, Jevon Carter and James Johnson on the protocols. Bruce Brown was added to the list with Harden later on Tuesday.
Harden will be inactive until further notice.
Brooklyn only had eight players – the league’s minimum – available to match their 131-129 extra-time win over Toronto.
NBA health and safety protocols require players to sit out for at least 10 days or record two negative tests in a 24-hour period before they can resume basketball activities. .
“Yes, definitely unlucky. First, we care about their health and safety,” head coach Steve Nash said. “Fortunately for us, they are mostly asymptomatic. But it will take some time for them to test negative and have our team fully operational again.”
The game against the Raptors marked five games in eight days for the Nets, a factor that Nash said he certainly took into account.
“There is not much we can do right now except wait for the results and control what is in our hands. So, in a sense, we’re playing the game of waiting and being ready to listen depending on what happens. “
