Austin Rivers leaves Orlando bubble for family matter

Rockets guard Austin Rivers has left the bubble complex due to an urgent family matter, and hopes to return to Orlando sometime this weekend. Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Rockets' Austin Rivers leaves NBA's Orlando bubble for family matter

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 7/24/20

A couple of players already have left the NBA's bubble in Orlando at Walt Disney World, and now the Houston Rockets are feeling the effects of that.

Rockets guard Austin Rivers has left the bubble complex due to an urgent family matter, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. Rivers hopes to report back to Orlando sometime this weekend, Charania added.

Rockets' Austin Rivers expects to return to the Orlando bubble sometime this weekend, sources said. https://t.co/eMpEYuha8a
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 24, 2020

If Rivers' absence is for seven days or fewer, he has to quarantine in his hotel room for four days upon his return before he can resume basketball activities, per the NBA's safety protocols.

If the 27-year-old is gone for more than a week, protocols still call for a four-day quarantine if he shows a negative coronavirus test on the final seven days he is gone. However, if Rivers isn't tested every day while he's outside of the bubble, he will have to quarantine for at least 10 days upon re-entry.

Rivers' departure means he'll almost definitely miss Houston's scrimmages on Friday, Sunday and Tuesday. In order to be eligible for the Rockets' first regular-season game on July 31, Rivers would have to return to Orlando by Monday.

Rivers has been a reliable backup to James Harden and Russell Westbrook this season. He's averaging 8.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and about 23 minutes per game this season. His absence means that Ben McLemore and DeMarre Carroll could see more time on the court.

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