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sports Monday 11 January 2021
Heat-Celtics game postponed by NBA due to virus protocols

By TIM REYNOLDS ment. after missing three games
AP Basketball Writer The Celtics would have because of the virus proto-
Boston was going to have been without seven play- cols.
to face Miami with the NBA ers for the game due to the “I hope not,” Indiana guard
minimum of eight players NBA’s COVID-19 protocols, Victor Oladipo said when
on Sunday night. In the end, all of them ruled out ear- asked if he thought going
the Heat weren’t even cer- lier Sunday, along with two back to a bubble would be
tain they would have that others because of injury. possible this season. “But
many. That would have left Boston I think the NBA’s doing all
The game between Boston with only eight available they can and they’re doing
and Miami was postponed players, the league mini- a great job, and the NBPA
— not because the Celtics mum. as well, working together
ruled out seven players due The Heat didn’t even have to do a great job to make
to the league’s health and that many cleared by the sure we are as safe as pos-
safety protocols for play- NBA to play, hence the sible. It’s tough. You can try
ing during the coronavirus decision to postpone. The your best and unfortunate-
pandemic, but because of team was staying in Boston ly there will still be some
concerns about exposure overnight while the tracing people that catch it.”
within the Heat roster. process continued and is The Heat-Celtics game is
The Heat learned earlier scheduled to play in Phila- the second postponed
Sunday that guard Avery delphia — another team in the NBA this season. A
Bradley would not be avail- with virus-related issues game between Oklahoma
able for the game in Boston — on Tuesday and Thurs- City and Houston was post-
because of the COVID-19 day. The 76ers played only poned on Dec. 23 because
protocols. That meant the seven players Saturday in a the Rockets did not have
Heat had to go through the loss to Denver, doing so in enough eligible players to
contact tracing data, and part because some were play — three had returned
with that process still ongo- ruled out in accordance tests that were either posi-
ing late Sunday afternoon, with the virus protocols. tive or inconclusive for the
the decision was made to The NBA and National Bas- coronavirus, four others
postpone the game out of ketball Players Association were quarantined, James
abundance of caution. put together a plan last Harden was unavailable
The league announced the year to finish the season in for violating the protocols
decision about two hours a bubble environment at and another player was Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III (44) dunks the ball over
before the 7 p.m. sched- Walt Disney World in Cen- out with an injury. That left Miami Heat guards Avery Bradley (11) and Andre Iguodala (28)
uled tipoff. tral Florida, where nobody Houston with seven players. during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednes-
“You are starting to see tested positive and no The Celtics on Sunday ruled day, Jan. 6, 2021, in Miami.
what is going on in our games were missed be- out Jaylen Brown, Javonte Associated Press
country directly affect the cause of the virus. But it’s Green, Semi Ojeleye, Jay-
NBA because we are no hardly been uncommon for son Tatum, Tristan Thomp- season but does not neces- reality. We are committed
longer in that safety net of NBA players to miss games son, Grant Williams and sarily mean any of the af- to proceeding with our in-
the bubble,” Denver coach this season over virus-relat- Robert Williams because fected Celtics tested posi- dustry and we’re doing it
Michael Malone said in ed issues, without the safety of the protocols. That’s the tive. with all the best science
New York, where his team of the bubble. In Brooklyn, most any team has been “The numbers are spiking,” and adherence to the pro-
was facing the Knicks, after Kevin Durant returned to without because of virus- Heat coach Erik Spoelstra tocols, but ultimately we’re
learning of the postpone- the Nets on Sunday night related issues so far this said Saturday. “That is the not in control.”q

Kenin beats Putintseva to reach Abu Dhabi quarterfinals

ABU DHABI, United Arab point when serving at 6-5 quarterfinals. The second-
Emirates (AP) — Austra- up in the second set, but seeded Ukrainian faces
lian Open champion Sofia Kenin saved the point and another Russian opponent,
Kenin of the United States broke Putintseva’s serve to Veronika Kudermetova, in
came back from match take the set to a tiebreak. the next round.
point down to beat Yulia Next up is a quarterfinal “I was just trying to be fo-
Putintseva and reach the match with ninth-seeded cused on every point and
quarterfinals of the Abu Maria Sakkari, who beat not let this match take
Dhabi Open on Sunday. former French Open and away the good tennis that
Kenin posted 57 unforced Wimbledon champion I played in the first set,” Svi-
errors to Putintseva’s 43 but Garbine Muguruza 7-5, 6-4, tolina said.
still prevailed 3-6, 7-6 (5), posting 33 winners to five Aryna Sabalenka record-
6-4 over the 13th-seeded for the more defensive Mu- ed her 12th consecutive
Putintseva. guruza. Kenin won her two win in tour matches with a
“I felt like today was more In this Oct. 10, 2020, file photo, Sofia Kenin, of the United States, previous matches against 6-2, 6-4 win over Ons Ja-
of a mental match. I prac- plays a shot against Poland’s Iga Swiatek in the final match of Sakkari, both in three sets in beur. The fourth-seeded
tice with her quite a lot so the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros sta- 2018. Sabalenka earned a mea-
I know her game well,” dium in Paris, France. Also, Elina Svitolina saved sure of revenge for her de-
Kenin said. “I’m just happy Associated Press two match points in a final- feat to Jabeur in their only
with the way that I fought set tiebreak to beat Ekat- previous match in the third
even though I wasn’t feel- Kenin dropped the open- secutive match in Abu Dha- erina Alexandrova 6-2, 6-7 round of the French Open
ing 100% on court.” ing set for the second con- bi. Putintseva had match (5), 7-6 (8) for a place in the in October.q