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Yesterday, I wrote that the Washington Wizards’ luck avoiding the coronavirus was running out since Philadelphia 76ers guard Seth Curry has it. And it looks like one day later, I’m proven right, though it’s not because of Curry.
Shams Charania of The Athletic wrote on Saturday evening that Beal would sit out the Wizards’ game against the Miami Heat because he was a close contact to Boston Celtics guard Jayson Tatum, who tested positive for the coronavirus today. The two guards spoke to each other at a very close distance after last night’s loss to them.
Wizards star Bradley Beal is out for tonight vs. Miami due to health and safety protocols and contact tracing exposure to Jayson Tatum, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 9, 2021
This is part of health and safety protocols investigating potential exposure that occurred when Bradley Beal and Jayson Tatum were speaking in close proximity on the court postgame Friday night, sources said. https://t.co/42fYb8Yesc
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 9, 2021
Beal has been the Wizards’ top player this season, where he is the NBA’s leading scorer with 35 points per game. In addition, Beal is also averaging 4.6 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game.
At this time, Beal has not tested positive for COVID-19. However, if he does in the next few days, Beal will have to miss at least 10 to 14 days before returning to the court assuming he suffers only a mild case. In addition, other Wizards players and coaches are likely facing some quarantine because they would be close contacts to him as well.
The coronavirus has already infected over 22 million Americans and killed 370,000. The United States leads the world in total cases and deaths, but also has among the worst case and death rates per capita due to a poor national response.