Four Houston Rockets players can't return from quarantine until Wednesday, source says

Four Houston Rockets players -- center DeMarcus Cousins, point guard John Wall, shooting guard Eric Gordon and guard Mason Jones -- who were considered close contacts under the NBA's COVID-19 protocols will be forced to quarantine until Wednesday, a league source told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The players had already been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers, and their quarantine will also keep them out of Monday's game at Denver.

The source said that, assuming negative COVID-19 testing, the players can return to team activities Wednesday before the Rockets face the Sacramento Kings on Thursday.

The NBA's protocols on contact tracing give the league the ability to make decisions on possible timelines for return if players continue to test negative.

The Rockets are traveling to Portland with nine players -- one more than the minimum required to play an NBA game -- for Saturday's game against the Trail Blazers. Reserve wing Ben McLemore and rookie forward Kenyon Martin Jr. tested positive for COVID-19 this week.

James Harden, who completed a four-day quarantine on Friday, has been cleared to play against the Blazers on Saturday night, sources told ESPN. He was unavailable for the postponed season opener because of a violation of the NBA's health and safety protocols.

"Tonight, we have a good opportunity," Harden said after Saturday's shootaround. "I'm starting my 12th year in this league. I'm excited for it."