Lakers' Talen Horton-Tucker Tests Positive, Enters Protocols

EL SEGUNDO, CA —The Los Angeles Lakers canceled their scheduled practice Tuesday after third-year guard Talen Horton-Tucker tested positive for COVID-19, ESPN reported.

Horton-Tucker, who played collegiately at Iowa State, has entered into the NBA's health and safety protocols, the team confirmed. The NBA's health and safety protocols require players to be sidelined at least 10 days or to record two negative tests in a 24-hour period before they can resume basketball activities, according to NBA.com

According to ESPN, the Lakers had been scheduled to practice ahead of a Tuesday afternoon flight to Dallas, where they are scheduled to face the Mavericks at 4:30 p.m. Pacific on Wednesday.

However, instead of starting their workout, the Lakers players were directed to take a rapid test and a PCR test for COVID-19. Player were expected to return negative results before meeting at the airport for the flight, according to ESPN.

Horton-Tucker is the second Laker to enter the health and safety protocols this season. LeBron James was away from the team for 48 hours in November after he returned what turned out to be a false positive, according to ESPN.

After missing the first 13 games of the season after thumb surgery, Horton-Tucker has started the last six contests for the Lakers. He is averaging 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists for Los Angeles, which currently has a 15-13 record. Horton-Tucker had 19 points and six steals in Sunday's win over the Orlando Magic.

COVID-19 numbers appear to be spiking in the NBA, as they are elsewhere.

On Monday, the NBA announced that the Chicago Bulls' next two games have been postponed—Tuesday's contest against the Detroit Pistons and Thursday's visit to the Toronto Raptors —after 10 Bulls players had entered COVID protocols. The Bulls were left with just nine active players.

ESPN also reported Tuesday that the Brooklyn Nets added four players to health and safety protocols, and the team now have five scheduled COVID-19 absences for Tuesday night's game against the Toronto Raptors.