Kings gameday live: Oklahoma City Thunder facing first COVID-19 outbreak; six players out
The Oklahoma City Thunder was facing its first COVID-19 outbreak Monday as the team arrived in Sacramento to play the Kings, who are still managing an outbreak of their own.
Kings center Alex Len has been upgraded to questionable for Tuesday’s game at Golden 1 Center, but rookies Davion Mitchell and Neemias Queta are still out due to NBA health and safety protocols. The Thunder will be hoping to avoid more positive test results after Darius Bazley, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Tre Mann and Aleksej Pokusevski entered the league’s protocol system.
The Kings (13-21) are reeling after losing three in a row, but players and staff have begun to return after being stricken by the virus. Interim coach Alvin Gentry, De’Aaron Fox, Terence Davis, Marvin Bagley III and Louis King all returned in Sunday’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Assistant coach Mike Longabardi was back at practice Monday.
The Thunder (12-20) learned Bazley and Mann were entering health and safety protocols before their game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. Pokusevski, Robinson-Earl and Aaron Wiggins went into protocols Monday, although Wiggins was cleared within a couple of hours.
Bazley has started 27 games for Oklahoma City this season, averaging 8.9 points and 6.5 rebounds. Robinson-Earl has started 24 games, averaging 7.5 points and 5.8 rebounds. Mann is the team’s backup point guard. Pokusevski is a backup center.
Thunder coach is out
The Thunder has announced coach Mark Daigneault is out for Tuesday’s game against the Kings after entering NBA health and safety protocols. Assistant coach Mike Wilks will serve as the team’s acting head coach.
Giddey out
Thunder rookie Josh Giddey was added to NBA health and safety protocols Tuesday morning. Giddey, the No. 6 pick in the 2021 NBA draft, is averaging 10.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists.
Favors out
Thunder center Derrick Favors has joined the growing list of Thunder players in health and safety protocols. Favors has appeared in 25 games this season, including 11 starts, averaging 5.6 points and 4.9 rebounds.
Len cleared
A league source told The Sacramento Bee that Len has cleared health and safety protocols after missing the past five games. However, Len is unlikely to play against Oklahoma City as he will need time for reconditioning before he returns to action, the source said.
Oklahoma City Thunder at Sacramento Kings
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sports 1140 KHTK
Odds: Kings -6.0
Over/under: 218.5
Injury report
Thunder:OUT — Darius Bazley (health and safety protocols); Vit Krejci (G League); Tre Mann (health and safety protocols); Aleksej Pokusevski (health and safety protocols); Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (health and safety protocols); Aaron Wiggins (health and safety protocols).
Kings: QUESTIONABLE— Alex Len (health and safety protocols). OUT — Davion Mitchell (health and safety protocols); Neemias Queta (health and safety protocols).
This story was originally published December 28, 2021 at 4:00 AM.
