Portland Forward Carmelo Anthony Misses Trip to Los Angeles for 'Health and Safety' Protocols

The Portland Trail Blazers will be minus forward Carmelo Anthony for Monday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers after he did not make the trip to Los Angeles for "health and safety" reasons. The team officially announced that Anthony will miss the game, updating their injury report with the news that he did not make the trip. The 36-year-old former first-round pick of the Denver Nuggets is off to a good start for the 1-1 Trail Blazers, averaging 10 points in 22.5 minutes. Anthony put in five points Saturday night in Portland's 128-126 overtime win over the Rockets. Portland gave the same "health and safety" designation to forward Nassir Little, who has not been a part of the team since the beginning of training camp. The Trail Blazers had three members of the organization test positive for COVID-19 on the weekend of December 4th. One of those who tested positive was a player, but it's unknown which player it was. Little and Zach Collins, who is hurt, are the only two Blazers players who have not appeared in a game since the start of preseason. Portland will play four straight on the road, starting with Monday's game.

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Matt has been a part of the Cleveland Sports landscape working in the media since 1994 when he graduated from broadcasting school. His coverage beats include the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Cavaliers. He's written three books, and won the "2020 AP Sports Stringer Lifetime Service Award."