NBA swaps Rockets-Spurs game for Heat-Sixers matchup Thursday on TNT

Due to the Heat‘s multiple player absences expected for Thursday, the NBA has opted to substitute a Rockets–Spurs contest in favor of the originally scheduled Heat matchup against the Sixers for broadcast on TNT, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times (Twitter link).

Heat players Jimmy Butler, Goran Dragic, Bam Adebayo, Kendrick Nunn, Maurice Harkless, Udonis Haslem and KZ Okpala will be unavailable due to the league’s coronavirus-related health and safety protocols. Center Meyers Leonard will also miss the game on Thursday due to a shoulder injury, David Wilson of the Miami Herald tweets.

Mark Medina of USA Today adds (via Twitter) that the Houston-San Antonio matchup will be rescheduled to a 7:30 p.m. EST start time on TNT, and the Heat-Philadelphia game will be moved to a 7 p.m. local broadcast.