NBA Postpones Five Games Due To COVID, Leading Up To Marquee Christmas Schedule

The NFL adjusted its policy for testing when the original model kept sidelining vaccinated, asymptomatic players that were capable of playing.

As for the NBA, their response to rising cases amid the surge of Omicron has stayed the same. And the sit-outs are piling up, resulting in postponed contests.

With health and safety protocols leaving several rosters too short-handed to play, the NBA announced that it postponed three games initially scheduled for Sunday, and two contests between Monday and Tuesday.

These cancellations come days before the NBA rolls out its Christmas slate — paramount to their season's broadcasting numbers.

According to our very own Sam Amico, via Hoops Wire, the Nets will be missing two games in this span with roughly nine players in health and safety protocols — which includes their Big 3 in Kevin Durant, James Harden and a returning Kyrie Irving.

The cancellations include:

Cavaliers at Hawks (Sun. 12/19)
Pelicans at 76ers (Sun. 12/19)
Nuggets at Nets (Sun. 12/19)
Magic at Raptors (Mon. 12/20)
Wizards at Nets (Tues. 12/21)

Up-to-date COVID guidelines in the NBA have called for continuous testing for vaccinated and unvaccinated players. Their penalty for a positive case includes a 10-day isolation period. With two or three games usually held in that timeframe, players miss considerable action even if they're symptom-free.

The NFL eventually turned its back on daily testing for vaccinated players, concurrent with the majority of players voicing their preference to do away with "COVID-related restrictions altogether."

Around 97 percent of players are vaccinated in the NBA, and most would agree that getting the shot should be their key to play.

Commissioner Adam Silver will have to decide if the Associated can grant some leeway to vaccinated players or jeopardize the Association's schedule for the remaining holidays, All-Star week and postseason.

Follow along on Twitter: @AlejandroAveela