Brooklyn Nets' protocols list grows to five as four more players ruled out

The Brooklyn Nets ruled four players out due to health and safety protocols on Tuesday morning against the Toronto Raptors.

The Nets now have five players out due to health and safety protocols after starting center LaMarcus Aldridge, starting swingman DeAndre' Bembry, power forward James Johnson and point guard Jevon Carter, who were added to the injury report on Tuesday. They join veteran forward Paul Millsap, who was ruled out Monday due to health and safety protocols.

Shortly after they ruled out four players, the Nets added star forward Kevin Durant to the injury report as questionable to play against Toronto due to right ankle soreness.

The Nets will face the Raptors without five players as of now. Forward Joe Harris (ankle surgery) and point guard Kyrie Irving (not with team) were already out as well. Durant is coming off scoring an NBA season-high 51 points at Detroit on Sunday. The Nets will need him and James Harden, who did not play in that win over Detroit due to rest.

Five Nets entering health and safety protocols comes 10 days after Brooklyn faced the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 4. The Bulls were just starting a stretch in which their roster has been decimated by a COVID-19 outbreak.

Chicago had two games against Detroit and Toronto postponed -- the first games this season to be postponed. Chicago has had Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Troy Brown Jr., Coby White, Javonte Green, Matt Thomas, Derrick Jones Jr., Ayo Dosunmu, Stanley Johnson and Alize Johnson all enter health and safety protocols.

Including their two-way players, Brooklyn has 10 available players for Tuesday night's game against Toronto and could get hardship relief in the form of two additional players, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.