Sources: Monday’s Suns-Grizzlies ‘looks good to go’ after three Phoenix games have been postponed

Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins admits he doesn’t have many details on the situation.

It’s a fluid one that can change at any moment, but he’s hopeful the Grizzlies can play Phoenix on Martin Luther King Jr. Day as the Suns have had three games postponed in accordance with the NBA’s health and safety protocols.

“All I know is that everything is kind of full go right now,” Jenkins said before Memphis played Saturday against Philadelphia. “There’s some final checkmarks that need to be taken care of, obviously, for Phoenix to get back on track, but we’re all hopeful we are able to play on Monday.”

League sources informed The Arizona Republic that Monday’s 3 p.m. game set to air on TNT ‘looks good to go.” The Suns are scheduled to fly out Sunday to Memphis. 

The Suns haven’t played since last Monday’s 128-107 loss at Washington. The NBA postponed Phoenix’s games this week against Atlanta, Golden State and Indiana, all at home, because of ongoing contact tracing within the Suns, they don’t have the league-minimum eight players available to play in a game.

Suns’ head coach Monty Williams talks with Devin Booker (1) on the bench against the Lakers during the first half at the Phoenix Suns Arena in Phoenix, Ariz. on Dec. 18, 2020.

 (Photo: Patrick Breen, Patrick Breen/The Republic)

The Wizards haven’t played since Monday either as the league has postponed their next four games including Monday’s against Cleveland. Wizards General Manager Tommy Sheppard said during Friday’s Zoom media call Washington has six players test positive for COVID-19 as nine total Wizards’ players are on health and safety protocols.

Washington’s four games have been postponed for the same reasons Phoenix’s have. Due to ongoing contact tracing within the Wizards, they don’t have the NBA-minimum eight players available to play in a game.

“It was inevitable,” Sheppard said Friday. “The NBA has been pointing to this period for quite some time that this was going to be very difficult and they weren’t kidding.”

The Wizards’ postponements have impacted Phoenix’s scheduling as sources informed The Republic on Wednesday that all the Suns tested negative for the virus, but players must receive consecutive negative tests to play.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) dribbles against Washington Wizards guard Raul Neto (19) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass).

 (Photo: Nick Wass, AP)

Jalen Smith was under health and safety protocols heading into Monday’s game at Washington, but the Suns rookie out of Maryland didn’t travel with the team on its three-game road trip that started Jan. 8 at Detroit.

A total of 13 NBA games have been postponed, 12 of them since last Sunday, but Jenkins believes the NBA is “studying every crevice off opportunity” to keep players, staff and fans safe in trying to play this 72-game season amid COVID-19 pandemic that’s spiking.

“This continues to be an unknown virus,” Jenkins said. “It rapidly changes every single day. I wish we had all the answers and we had everything perfectly in place, but I know they’re doing their best efforts every single day. How much research they’re doing, having the constant conversations about the protocols to put us in the healthiest situation possible to go out there and play basketball.”

The NBA and National Basketball Players Association announced Tuesday an agreement to tighten the health and safety protocols for a two-week period at least as the league tries to have a season outside of a bubble environment that proved to be extremely effective in keeping the virus at bay during the NBA restart this past summer.

“It’s an ever-changing situation,” Jenkins said. “I know the NBA is rapidly focused on that and trying to make the best decisions as possible.” 

Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins gives instructions in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak).

 (Photo: Tony Dejak/AP)

The significance of Monday’s game is that it’s being played on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Memphis where Dr. King was assassinated April 4, 1968.

King’s birthday is Jan. 15. 

“There is always excitement for the MLK game here in Memphis,” Jenkins said. “So much history with our community rallying around this game and the fans and being in the spotlight and being able to play basketball on this special day means so much to these guys.”

Jenkins sees this game providing a platform to continue the conversation for social justice as King Jr. was a leader of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, but he also understands the importance of adapting to how this season can change due to the virus.

“We are very hopeful that Monday is able to be a go and we can go out there and perform on a very, very special day in our history, in our league’s history and our city’s history, but we’re focused today on Saturday,” Jenkins said. “We’ll cross the bridge once this game is over and see what comes next for us.” 

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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