The NBA is postponing Wednesday’s game in Chicago between the Raptors and Bulls, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). The NBA has officially confirmed the decision, announcing that Toronto doesn’t have the required minimum of eight players available.
Marc Stein first reported (via Twitter) that the game was at risk of postponement because some of the replacement players Toronto agreed to sign in order to meet the roster minimum may need to immediately enter the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
The Raptors entered the day with seven players in the health and safety protocols, and OG Anunoby entered the protocols on Wednesday, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarwoski (Twitter link). Khem Birch (knee), Justin Champagnie (non-COVID illness), David Johnson (calf) and Goran Dragic (not with team) were also ruled out for Wednesday night’s game, leaving the team with just four healthy players.
Toronto had lined up deals with five replacement players (Nik Stauskas, Brandon Goodwin, Tremont Waters, Juwan Morgan and D.J. Wilson), but those signings aren’t yet official.
This is the second time in the last week that a Bulls-Raptors game has been postponed. The two teams were supposed to play in Chicago last Thursday, but the Bulls didn’t have enough players at that point.
Both clubs will now be off through Christmas before resuming their respective schedules on Dec. 26. The Raptors play in Cleveland on Sunday, while the Bulls will host Indiana.
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