There are seven new positive coronavirus test results among the 456 league players tested since February 24, per an announcement from the NBPA.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that several of these positive results stemmed from the Raptors, who have had to postpone two games after an outbreak on their team. Pascal Siakam will have missed at least four games as he continues to quarantine through the All-Star break. The Raptors forward returned an inconclusive result on a coronavirus test a few days ago, but it is unclear if he has subsequently tested positive. Several Raptors coaches tested positive as well.
Sources are blaming the COVID-19 spread among the club on erratic face mask use by coaches, Charania adds. Toronto can finally field enough players to return to the court on Wednesday evening against the Pistons.
The league is surely hoping that it will be able to curb these outbreak-prompted game postponements as it looks ahead to a packed post-All Star break home stretch. Thus far this season, 31 games have been postponed due to health and safety protocol-driven absences.
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