Utah Jazz's Joe Ingles, front, passes the ball off under pressure from Washington Wizards' Bradley Beal in their game Dec. 18 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City. Photo: Chris Gardner/Getty Images
The NBA on Sunday announced it has postponed five games in response to a surge in coronavirus cases, largely driven by the Omicron variant.
Why it matters: The new strain has rocked the sports world, forcing numerous postponements and adjustments to safety protocols as the leagues scramble to contain the rapid spread of the virus.
- The Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets are the teams affected by the postponements, according to the release.
- Five players from the Cavaliers have tested positive for COVID, per AP.
The NHL announced Sunday that it's postponing all cross-border games until after the holiday break that begins Dec. 23.
- As a result, 12 games against Canadian teams that were set for Monday through Thursday this week have been temporarily suspended.
The backdrop: The postponements come as infections, hospitalizations and deaths have climbed across the United States, spurred on by the highly transmissible variant, Axios' Sam Baker writes.
- The NHL and NFL rescheduled several games last week after players tested positive for the virus.
Go deeper: Omicron threatens to massively disrupt sports world