Four San Antonio Spurs players positive for coronavirus

(FILES) In this file photo head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs stands as other players and staff and the Sacramento Kings kneel around a Black Lives Matters logo on the court before an NBA basketball game on July 31, 2020. (Photo by STR / POOL / AFP)

Three more games involving the San Antonio Spurs were postponed on Tuesday as the NBA confirmed four players from the team have now tested positive for Covid-19.

An NBA statement said the games would be postponed in order to allow time for contact tracing of other Spurs players as well as members of the Charlotte Hornets roster.

Stay safe, warm and strong #SpursFamily. pic.twitter.com/P1UacqjEx7

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 16, 2021

The Hornets, who played against San Antonio on Sunday, have had their next two games postponed.

San Antonio had already seen Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Pistons called off after a Covid-19 case was confirmed on Monday.

The Spurs were due to play Cleveland on Wednesday before traveling to face the New York Knicks on Saturday and the Indiana Pacers next Monday.

The Hornets meanwhile have been forced to shelve Wednesday’s game against the Chicago Bulls and a fixture on Friday against the Denver Nuggets.

The San Antonio outbreak comes just weeks after the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association introduced stricter health and safety protocols aimed at stemming the spread of Covid-19.

The clampdown included ordering players and team staffers to remain at their residence at all times when the club is at home except to attend team-related activities, exercise outside or perform essential activities.