Friday's Wizards-Pistons, Warriors-Suns games postponed

The NBA's ongoing COVID-19 crisis will continue to affect the league's schedule through at least Friday night. 

The Athletic's Shams Charania tweeted on Wednesday that Friday's Washington Wizards-Detroit Pistons contest and a showdown between the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns also set for Friday are postponed following contact tracing that will prevent the Wizards and Suns from dressing a league-required eight healthy and available players. 

As of Charania's latest update, nine NBA games, in total, have been postponed since the season began on Dec. 22. 

Also on Wednesday afternoon, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association confirmed in a joint statement that 16 players have tested positive for the coronavirus since Jan. 6. 

Charania's report shouldn't have surprised anybody. The Wizards didn't have enough available players to face the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, while COVID-19 issues prevented the Suns from competing against the Atlanta Hawks the same night. 

Washington is scheduled to host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday and Monday, and the Suns will hope to host the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night. The NBA will update the statuses of those games closer to the weekend. 

Meanwhile, New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson missed Wednesday's matchup versus the L.A. Clippers because of the league's health and safety protocols. It was unknown if Williamson tested positive for COVID-19 as of early Wednesday night.