Will NBA postpone Kings-Grizzlies game? Latest news on COVID-19 outbreak in Sacramento
Kings point guards De’Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell have been ruled out for Friday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies after entering NBA health and safety protocols amid a COVID-19 outbreak in Sacramento.
Seven players have been ruled out and two more are listed as questionable, potentially leaving the Kings with only eight healthy players. The NBA requires teams to have a minimum of eight players in uniform at the start of each game. The league will be monitoring the situation in Sacramento closely throughout the day, but at this point neither the Kings nor the NBA have indicated the game will be postponed.
A league source told The Sacramento Bee rigorous testing continued within the Kings organization Friday afternoon. Sources said the Kings would sign free-agent guard Justin Robinson if the league grants them a hardship exception.
Marvin Bagley III (health and safety protocols), Terence Davis (health and safety protocols), Fox (health and safety protocols), Richaun Holmes (eye), Louis King (health and safety protocols) and Alex Len (health and safety protocols) and Mitchell have all been ruled out. Tyrese Haliburton (back soreness) and Chimezie Metu (knee soreness) are questionable.
If Haliburton and Metu are ruled out, the Kings will be down to eight players: Buddy Hield, Jahmi’us Ramsey, Robert Woodard II, Harrison Barnes, Maurice Harkless, Tristan Thompson, Damian Jones and Neemias Queta. The addition of Robinson would give the Kings nine players, but it’s not clear if he would be able to join the team in time for Friday’s game.
This story was originally published December 17, 2021 at 2:03 PM.
