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UPDATE: Jan. 10, 4:30 p.m. — The NBA has postponed Sunday’s game between the Heat and Celtics because the Heat don’t have enough players to field a team. Miami got back an inconclusive test and were forced to quarantine due to contact tracing. Adjust your lineups accordingly.
The Boston Celtics-Miami Heat game tonight has been postponed, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. A Heat player has returned an inconclusive test, and team does not have required eight players to proceed with game tonight due to contact tracing.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 10, 2021
The Boston Celtics are in hot water ahead of their Sunday machup against the Miami Heat and won’t have a large chunk of their roster available because of Covid-19 exposure and injuries. Boston announced on Twitter that nine players have been ruled out ahead of tip-off.
Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Grant Williams, Robert Williams, Semi Ojele, Rome Langford, Javonte Green, and Tristan Thompson have been ruled out due to health and safety protocols associated with Covid-19 while Kemba Walker will miss an 11th straight game because of his recovering knee.
Miami won’t be at 100 percent either in this matchup, as Avery Bradley has been ruled out because of health and safety protocols while Goran Dragic, Meyers Leonard, and Kelly Olynky are questionable to play because of injuries. Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo will be available though.
The Heat are 9.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook and -560 on the moneyline. It’d be surprising if the Celtics (+410) put up much of a fight.