Rams, Lakers And Bruins Deal With COVID Outbreaks

LOS ANGELES, CA — The coronavirus is making its way through multiple Los Angeles sports teams including the Rams, the Lakers and UCLA's basketball team.

An outbreak force the cancellation of the UCLA men's basketball game while the Rams were forced to place three more players on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The news comes a day after the Lakers canceled their scheduled practice Tuesday and had players take COVID-19 tests. The move came after third-year guard Talen Horton-Tucker tested positive for COVID-19, ESPN reported.

UCLA on Wednesday issued a statement at 7:01 p.m. that its "men's basketball home game against Alabama State on Dec. 15, will not be played as scheduled due to COVID-19 protocols." The game had been set to start at 8:05 p.m.

UCLA announced at 3:15 p.m. that Cronin would not coach the game "due to COVID-19 protocols." The team will be coached instead by associate head coach Darren Savino, according to the university.

The Bruins, ranked fourth in The Associated Press poll released Monday, are next scheduled to play Saturday against North Carolina in Las Vegas.

Rams linebacker Justin Hollins and tight ends Johnny Mundt and Jared Pinkney were all added to the team's COVID list Wednesday, raising to 16 the number of players the team has put on the list in recent days.

Among those on the COVID reserve list are star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., cornerback Jalen Ramsey and running back Darrell Henderson Jr.

Vaccinated players can return to the squad if they test negative twice at least 24 hours apart. Unvaccinated players must remain isolated for 10 days.

The Rams are scheduled to play host to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.