NBA postpones Bulls games amid team COVID-19 outbreak

The NBA has postponed two Chicago Bulls games this week amid a team-related COVID-19 outbreak.

“The Chicago Bulls’ next two games — Tuesday, Dec. 14 against the Detroit Pistons and Thursday, Dec. 16 at Toronto — have been postponed,” the league said in a statement Monday.

“Ten Bulls players, along with additional staff members, are currently in the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols,” the league added.

The minimum requirement for the number of players needed to participate in a game is eight, ESPN noted. 

The following was released by the NBA pic.twitter.com/afG3OqvqlB

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 13, 2021

In a statement, the Bulls said the postponed contests this week will be rescheduled to a later date.

This comes as Bulls forward Alize Johnson tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.

The team placed Johnson in the league’s health and safety protocols along with nine other teammates including forward DeMar DeRozan, guard Zach LaVine and rookie guard Ayo Dosunmu, ESPN reported.

In a memo last week, the league informed unvaccinated players that they won’t be able to travel to Canada to compete in scheduled games starting next year.

The league said that 97 percent of its players are vaccinated against the virus and more than 60 percent have received their booster shots, ESPN reported.