Seven LA Clippers Staff Members in Quarantine After One Positive COVID-19 Test

• The LA Clippers organization is on high alert after a member of staff tested positive for COVID-19.
• NBA Legend Paul Westphal dies at 70 years old.
• Portland’s Carmelo Anthony passed Tim Duncan for 14th in career scoring.

As per a report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the LA Clippers have placed seven members of its staff in quarantine after one member tested positive for COVID-19. The positive test came about after the Clippers returned to Los Angeles by bus after an away match in Salt Lake City.

In terms of playing and coaching staff, none were part of the group that was put under mandatory quarantine. Through methods of contact tracing, the outbreak was traced back to an LA Clippers New Year’s staff gathering in Salt Lake City.

The Clippers are the second team to undergo a COVID-19 scare after the Houston Rockets’ concerns over health and safety brought them to postpone their match against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Clippers didn’t have an issue dressing enough players in their match against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.

Basketball Hall of Fame Member Paul Westphal Dies at 70

Westy will not be immortalized for just playing basketball. He will be remembered for how he lived his life, and how he treated others.

Rest In Peace, Westy ?

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 2, 2021

It was a sad day on January 2nd when it was announced that basketball legend Paul Westphal died at the age of 70. Westphal was a Hall of Fame guard named to five All-Star teams and was a three-time All-NBA First Team selection.

Westphal won his first and only NBA Championship as a member of the Boston Celtics in 1974. After his storied playing career, Westphal went on to become a successful coach as well. Serving as the head coach of Phoenix Suns, Seattle Supersonics, and Sacramento Kings, Westphal’s last season as a coach would be in an assistant role with the Brooklyn Nets in 2016.

Westphal was diagnosed with brain cancer in August of 2020. Westphal is survived by his wife Cindy, two children, and his grandchildren. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called Westphal “One of the greatest players of his era”.

Legendary. pic.twitter.com/xm4uIfKij6

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 2, 2021

NBA veteran and eventual Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony continues to make history in his 18th NBA season. After posting 18 points in the Blazers’ Friday victory over the Golden State Warriors, Anthony passed Tim Duncan on the all-time career scoring list.

At 36 years old, Anthony is averaging 23.5 points for his career that has spanned 1127 games. When speaking with NBA.com staff, Anthony said about his record:

I’m still enjoying the game and I think it shows. To surpass Tim Duncan, we all know how great he was and what he meant to the game … I’m still going.

Anthony is projected to reach as high as 11th place in the all-time career-scoring list by season’s end. He would have to surpass Hakeem Olajuwon, Oscar Robertson, and Dominique Wilkins. Anthony would need to score 814 points to break into the top ten.

Injuries Around the League

On December 31st Atlanta Hawks guard Kris Dunn underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle in order to remove loose cartilage. Dunn has not played yet this season, his status will be updated after two weeks.

The Indiana Pacers’ hot start took a difficult turn as it was announced that TJ Warren would undergo surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. The injury would see him out for the majority of the 20-21 season.

Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope suffered a mild ankle sprain in the third quarter of their Friday game against the Spurs. There is no timetable for Caldwell-Pope’s return.

James Harden was a late scratch from the Houston Rockets’ game on Saturday against the Sacramento Kings due to an ankle sprain. Harden has been leading the Rockets and the league in scoring with 37 points per game.