The NBA has postponed the next two Chicago Bulls games due to a COVID-19 outbreak which has sidelined 10 of its players. The league is hoping to allow the franchise to start getting healthy players back, and also to prevent further spread of the virus.  The postponed games are the first game casualties of the season.

Sources say that the Bulls were eager to have the league grant them relief with the postponements and get the support of the Chicago Department of Public Health, which impacted the league’s decision.  Forward Alize Johnson tested positive and entered protocols on Monday, sources said, and the Bulls were down to a league minimum of eight players Johnson joins a lengthy list of Bulls in the league’s health and safety protocols that includes Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Troy Brown Jr., Coby White, Javonte Green, Matt Thomas, Derrick Jones Jr., Ayo Dosunmu and Stanley Johnson. Once players enter the league’s protocols, they must quarantine for 10 days or until they return two negative PCR tests within a 24-hour window. The team did not hold an organized practice Monday.

The NBA will reschedule the Bulls-Pistons game on Tuesday in Chicago, and the Bulls-Raptors on Thursday in Toronto for future dates.

Editorial credit: Postmodern Studio / Shutterstock.com