The NBA announced the Toronto Raptors' game Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls has been postponed.
The Raptors, who are among the teams currently dealing with significant COVID-19 issues in the NBA, did not have the league-required eight available players to proceed.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Brooklyn Nets' game against the Portland Trail Blazers was postponed for the same reason.
This marks the Raptors' third postponement this season, with the first two due to outbreaks on the Bulls and Orlando Magic. It's the ninth postponement of the NBA season.
Toronto's roster has been destabilized by the virus in recent days, with seven players officially in the NBA's health and safety protocols. The list confirmed by the team so far includes: Fred VanVleet (Dec. 21), Malachi Flynn (Dec. 21), Gary Trent Jr. (Dec. 20), Pascal Siakam (Dec. 18) and Dalano Banton (Dec. 18).
OG Anunoby was reportedly added to the protocols as well prior to Wednesday's postponement, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, which would bring the total to eight.
Beyond the COVID-related absences, the Raptors were already slated to be shorthanded for the game. Justin Champagnie (non-COVID illness), David Johnson (calf), Goran Dragic (not with team), were all sidelined. Khem Birch, who is dealing with swelling in his right knee, was also ruled out prior to the postponement.
Using a temporary measure agreed to by the NBA and the NBPA -- which allows teams to sign one player for every player that enters protocols and requires teams to sign players as the number of their own players in protocols mounts, without impacting the salary cap or luxury tax -- the Raptors had made a series of emergency additions in recent days.
The Raptors signed four players to 10-day contracts using the hardship exception: Point guard Tremont Waters, point guard Brandon Goodwin, power forward Juwan Morgan and Canadian Nik Stauskas.
After losing Birch and Anunoby, if all of the players the Raptors had signed on an emergency basis were eligible to play, the team would have had eight players available tonight.
Guard: Stauskas, Goodwin, Waters
Wing/Forward: Mykhailiuk, Watanabe, Bonga, Morgan
Big: Boucher
It was not immediately clear what caused the Raptors to drop below the league-minimum of eight available players.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported earlier in the day that some of the team's emergency signees might have to go into health and safety protocols, resulting in Toronto not having enough players.
Toronto's game against the Bulls was going to air on Sportsnet and Sportsnet ONE. In its place, Sportsnet will air the Houston Rockets taking on the Milwaukee Bucks, starting at 8 p.m. ET on Sportsnet and Sportsnet ONE.
The Raptors' next game is slated for Sunday, Dec. 26 on the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
