• Chicago Raptors game postponed, Toronto unable to field minimum 8 players
• Laval Denied Chance to Host AHL All-Star Event for Second Year in a Row
• Nets vs Trail Blazers game postponed due to team exhaustion
• Jets and Eagles head coaches test positive for COVID-19

The NBA has postponed the game from Toronto to Chicago tonight because the Raptors do not have the required eight players available.

The NBA’s announcement comes a day after the Raptors added four players to the league’s COVID-19 protocols, giving them a total of seven players sidelined for new coronavirus reasons.

A Raptors spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday that forward OG Anunoby has become the eighth player on the team to enter the league’s COVID-19 protocols. Anunoby had just come back from a left hip pointer that kept him from playing 13 games.

Fred VanVleet, Malachi Flynn, Scottie Barnes and Precious Achiuwa were added yesterday, joining Gary Trent Jr., Pascal Siakam and Dalano Banton. In addition, the Khem Birch center is absent with knee swelling.

The Raptors have tried to catch up by signing several G-League players under the NBA hardship clause.

Nik Stauskas of Mississauga, Ont., Brandon Goodwin, Juwan Morgan and Tremont Waters were signed by the G-League Raptors under the NBA hardship clause.

This is the third game the Raptors have postponed, with Monday’s home game against Orlando and a home date with the Bulls on December 13.

The AHL cancels the All-Star event in Laval, Que.

The American Hockey League All-Star Classic scheduled for early next year in Laval, Que., Has been canceled due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is the second year in a row that the All-Star event has been abandoned after being scheduled in Laval. The 2021 All-Star Classic has been postponed after the start of the 2020-21 season in the AHL was postponed to December 4, 2020 due to concerns about the pandemic.

AHL President and CEO Scott Howson has said he is committed to bringing the All-Star Classic to Laval in the future.

The last AHL All-Star Game to be played in Canada was in 2014 at Mile One Center in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Nets vs Trail Blazers game postponed

The Brooklyn Nets game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday was postponed because the Nets lack the required number of players, the NBA said on Wednesday, amid an increase in COVID-19 cases.

The NBA said on its website that the Nets had 10 players in health and safety protocols on Tuesday.

“The Nets do not have the eight available players required by the league to continue the game against the Trail Blazers,” the NBA said in a statement. The game was to be played in Portland.

Despite an increase in COVID-19 cases, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has said the league has no plans to suspend its season.

Jets ‘Saleh and Eagles’ Sirianni tested positive for COVID

Robert Saleh of the Jets and Nick Sirianni of the Eagles have tested positive for COVID-19 after experiencing symptoms in the morning.

For New York, this is the latest in what has been a wave of coronavirus cases on the team. The Jets have 17 players from both active and training teams, including the injured reserve, on the COVID-19 roster. Saleh, who plans to continue to virtually host team meetings, could return as early as Thursday if he no longer shows symptoms and tests negative.

Sirianni also tested positive after experiencing symptoms. He is isolating himself in a hotel and passing play coordinator Kevin Patullo would take care of the coaching duties if Sirianni doesn’t clear up the protocols in time for Sunday’s game against the Giants.

Browns sophomore coach Kevin Stefanski cleared COVID-19 protocols on Wednesday and returned to the squad after missing Monday’s 16-14 home loss to Las Vegas.

The Browns were rocked by the virus last week, when an epidemic left 22 players missing the rescheduled game. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has yet to produce the required negative test and his status at Green Bay is unclear.

Stefanski said players who test positive before December 15 will be eligible to play on Saturday – the end of their 10-day window – as long as they are asymptomatic. This would include Mayfield and substitute QB Case Keenum. Third rope player Nick Mullens performed well in his first start since last season with San Francisco.