LOS ANGELES — The Lakers canceled practice Tuesday after guard Talen Horton-Tucker returned a positive test for COVID-19 and entered into the league’s health and safety protocols, the team announced.
Later Tuesday night, Dwight Howard and Malik Monk also entered protocols and will miss the team’s game Wednesday vs. the Dallas Mavericks, the Lakers announced after they landed in Texas.
Monk flew with the team, but the Lakers will arrange safe transport for him back to California. Howard did not make the trip.
Rather than take the court Tuesday, team members were directed to take two tests — a rapid test and a PCR — before meeting at the airport for the trip once returning a negative result, sources told ESPN.
The Lakers news comes at a time when several team rosters have been hurt by players entering the protocols, including the Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls and the Bucks.
The Bulls, who had two games postponed this week after 10 players were out because of the virus, are scheduled to host the Lakers on Sunday in Chicago.
Horton-Tucker was the second Lakers player to enter into the protocols this season after LeBron James spent about 48 hours away from the team because of a false positive test last month.
The third-year guard missed the first 13 games of the season after undergoing surgery on his right thumb during training camp. He had started to find his rhythm, starting the past six games for L.A. and putting up 19 points and six steals in Sunday’s win over Orlando.
The Lakers could also be without Anthony Davis for Wednesday’s game against the Mavericks. Davis, who missed the past two games with soreness in his left knee, is listed as questionable.
Source: www.espn.com