Another postponement in NBA; Fox scores 43 but Kings still fall to Pelicans

Another NBA game was postponed Sunday because of coronavirus concerns, and the Grizzlies said center Jonas Valanciunas will not play Monday because of the league’s health and safety protocols.

The NBA said the Philadelphia at Oklahoma City game, scheduled for Sunday night, could not be played because the 76ers did not “have the league-required eight available players to proceed” because of contact tracing.

It was the 13th game called off since Jan. 10 because of virus issues, a span in which the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association have stiffened protocols and even added testing with hopes of keeping the season going without much in the way of additional problems.

“Nobody is complaining,” Detroit head coach Dwane Casey said. “It’s different. We have to go with the flow. We trust and believe in the NBA, that they’re doing what’s right for us and our families.”

That 76ers-Thunder determination was made about 90 minutes before the planned start time. The 76ers played in Memphis on Saturday night, losing 106-104. Valanciunas played 20 minutes.

The Grizzlies said he would be unable to play Monday against Phoenix because of the league’s protocols.

It is the second time this month that the protocols have flagged Valanciunas. He was pulled at halftime of Memphis’ game against Brooklyn on Jan. 8 because of some sort of virus-related issue.

Phoenix’s game in Memphis on Monday is scheduled to be the Suns’ first game in a week. The Suns said they would be missing three players for virus-related issues.

“There was a lot that happened this week, so much out of our control,” Phoenix head coach Monty Williams said. “We understood what the league was trying to do as far as keeping everybody safe. It’s just a different world we live...