Detroit Pistons-Denver Nuggets game on Monday postponed minutes before tipoff

ByABC News
February 1, 2021, 9:29 PM

Monday's Detroit Pistons- Denver Nuggets game was postponed minutes before its scheduled 9 p.m. ET tip at Ball Arena due to contact tracing within the Pistons, the NBA announced.

Detroit returned a positive/inconclusive coronavirus test on a player, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The Pistons were watching pregame film when they learned of the postponement.

The NBA recently made the decision to postpone games in the situation of a single test coming back potentially positive.

Detroit was set to play the second game of a five-city Western Conference trip in Denver on Monday. The Pistons have games scheduled against the Jazz (Tuesday), Suns (Friday) and Lakers (Saturday).

The team remained in Denver, retesting players after Monday's postponement, but was set to depart for Salt Lake City and is expected to be able to face the Jazz on Tuesday, sources told ESPN. 

Monday's game was set to mark the return of two former Nuggets -- Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee. Denver's players could be seen talking to and embracing their former teammates during pregame warm-ups.

This is the 23rd game postponed due to COVID-19 this NBA season.