NBA postpones Nets at Portland because of Brooklyn's depleted roster

It’s a simple math problem. The Nets had nine active players on their roster, including eight who played Saturday against the Magic and free agent Wenyen Gabriel, who signed Tuesday. But the NBA on Wednesday postponed Thursday night’s scheduled game in Portland because the Nets could not meet the minimum roster requirement of eight healthy players.

That means at least two of those nine previously healthy players since have entered NBA health and safety protocols. The postponement had nothing to do with any changes in injury status, a source confirmed to Newsday.

That also means the Nets now have a league-high of at least 12 players in various stages of the 10-day quarantine period required by the NBA protocols. But because seven players entered quarantine on Dec. 13 or Dec. 14, it’s expected those players, including James Harden, will be available for the Nets’ nationally televised Christmas Day game in Los Angeles against the Lakers, as well as a scheduled game against the Clippers on Dec. 27.

The postponement was a league-high third straight for the Nets, including games scheduled at home against the Nuggets last Sunday and at home against the Wizards on Tuesday. The Bulls also had a third game postponed on Wednesday, but it was because the Raptors could not meet the minimum roster requirement.

Prior to playing the Magic last Saturday at Barclays Center, the Nets announced that stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and rookie Day’Ron Sharpe had entered COVID protocols. That brought their total to 10, including Paul Millsap, who entered health and safety protocols on Dec. 13 and Harden, LaMarcus Aldridge, Bruce Brown, DeAndre’ Bembry, Jevon Carter and James Johnson, who entered on Dec. 14.

Technically, on that basis, Millsap would have been the only one coming out of quarantine in time to play in Portland. But Harden, Aldridge, Brown, Bembry, Carter and Johnson are expected to be out of quarantine and be available against the Lakers.

However, their mere availability does not mean all will play. That will be determined based on age, physical condition and any lingering effects for those who tested positive for COVID-19. Most likely, no one will play an excessive amount because none have practiced or played since entering league protocols.

Although the Nets have not issued a recent injury report, Nic Claxton sat out the Magic game with wrist soreness and Blake Griffin suffered a knee injury in that game. Patty Mills was supposed to rest that game but wound up playing 41 minutes. Their availability remains uncertain but did not contribute to the decision to postpone the Portland game.

On Tuesday, the Nets announced the signing of G League forward Gabriel to a 10-day contract to help fill out their roster. He joins free agents Langston Galloway, James Ennis and Shaquille Harrison who signed 10-day deals last week.

The team did not practice Wednesday and had no plans to practice Thursday before flying to Los Angeles on Friday. The Lakers had four players in health and safety protocols as of Wednesday, and center Anthony Davis is out at least four weeks with a sprained knee.

By Greg Logan

Gregory.Logan@newsday.comGregLogan1

Greg Logan has worked for Newsday since 1982 covering a wide array of sports and events, currently including the Brooklyn Nets beat.