The Warriors’ Thursday night game in Denver could be in jeopardy due to a developing COVID-19 outbreak within the Nuggets.
In just a 10-minute span on Thursday morning, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, as well as players Jeff Green, Bones Hyland and Zeke Nnaji, entered league health and safety protocols. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that it’s possible Denver doesn’t reach the eight-player minimum threshold to play Thursday’s game against Golden State.
Like the Warriors, Denver is already shorthanded to begin with. Its roster is depleted due to long-term injuries to Jamal Murray (torn ACL) and Michael Porter Jr. (back). Forward Aaron Gordon and guard Monte Morris also missed Denver’s most recent game — an 89-86 win over the Warriors in the Chase Center — due to a hamstring and knee injury, respectively.
If the Nuggets can’t field a team of at least eight players, Thursday night’s game against Golden State will be postponed. If the game does tip off, Nuggets assistant David Adelman will be the acting coach, according to a Denver Post report.
The Warriors haven’t had a game postponed yet this season. They’re also dealing with their own COVID-19 issues; Moses Moody and Jordan Poole cleared protocols, but James Wiseman joined Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins on the injury report Wednesday.