Boston Celtics

Celtics’ Tristan Thompson out due to COVID protocols vs. Utah Jazz

Thompson missed time due to health and safety protocols earlier this season.

Tristan Thompson is out on Tuesday. Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

By Tom Westerholm

2 minutes to read

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Boston Celtics center Tristan Thompson will miss Tuesday’s game against the Utah Jazz due to health and safety protocols, per the team.

Celtics coach Brad Stevens said he found out Thompson was out on Tuesday morning.

“I think we’ve tried our best to tell our team from the get-go that we’ve got to hit curveballs,” Stevens said. “This is going to be constant. As a staff, when we wake up every morning, we don’t know what’s going to happen with regard to who’s available. I mean, you never know in an NBA season, I mean, shoot, anything could happen. Guys got the flu in the past, whatever the case may be. Obviously, there’s been a lot less of that because of all the mask-wearing but I do think you’re always on your toes and I always expect someone is not going to be available.”

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The Celtics were just in Houston, which Stevens said was “nothing like Massachusetts, nothing” in regards to COVID protocols.

Thompson missed the Celtics’ Jan. 8 game against the Washington Wizards due to contact tracing and was one of several players whose absence forced the Celtics to postpone three games. Jayson Tatum and Robert Williams both tested positive, and Tatum in particular has discussed the lengthy process of shaking off COVID’s aftereffects on his lungs.

“It’s a long process,” Tatum said earlier this year. “I’ve talked to guys, and they said it took months for them to kind of catch their breath, get their wind back and I’m kind of on the same track with that. I for sure feel better. I don’t necessarily feel the same as before I got it when I was playing. I definitely know there’s a difference, but I feel pretty good.”

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Recent trade rumors have tied Thompson to the Toronto Raptors. After a slow start to the season, Thompson is averaging 7.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.

Romeo Langford has not played this season after undergoing wrist surgery while the Celtics were in the bubble. He has been cleared from an injury perspective, but he is also in health and safety protocols. Langford’s health and safety absence began last week.

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