No Dallas Mavericks’ players tested positive for COVID-19 two days after their close contact with Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, who tested positive on Thursday and entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
The positive test by Vucevic was announced one day after the Mavs lost Wednesday’s game to the Bulls, 117-107. Vucevic played 32 minutes in that game and finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and was obviously in close contact with several members of the Mavs. But after going through their regular testing procedures, the Mavs announced before Friday’s 123-109 victory over the San Antonio Spurs that all of their players are in the clear as far as COVID-19 is concerned involving any contact with Vucevic.
“I think everyone who is involved (got) tested, and so the protocol is a test and everyone tested and everyone is negative,” coach Jason Kidd said. “We just have to follow the guidelines of the NBA.
“And if someone does become positive, then we have to take the appropriate steps that the NBA have laid out for us.”
The Bulls played two games last week against the Philadelphia 76ers and their center, Joel Embiid, who was mostly guarded by Vucevic. Embiid eventually tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday — two days before the Mavs-Bulls’ game.
KIDD VISITED THE SPURS BETWEEN JOBS: San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich discovered a lot more about Jason Kidd in 2018 when he invited Kidd to visit his team.
At the time, Kidd was between jobs and was looking to stay on top of his game before he became an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019. Kidd and Popovich talked basketball, and also went to dinner.
“He’s a lifer,” Popovich said. “He was a point guard. It just flows in his veins, and understanding of the game.
“He’s an ultimate competitor on top of that, so he’s got the IQ for it, and the competitiveness is a great combination. So he just wanted to stay busy and he wanted to keep going.”
Now the coach of the Mavs, Kidd was thrilled with his two-day visit with Popovich.
“It was great hanging out with Pop, because he’s real,” Kidd said. “Just to be able to see the (Spurs’ team) meetings and how he handles different things was really, really nice.
“To be able to talk to his staff, and then to go to the game and then be able to go to dinner afterwards, he doesn’t waste any time getting to dinner.”
Popovich said it was a pleasure having his brain picked by Kidd.
“He doesn’t want to stand still,” Popovich said. “So he came in and we got to share ideas — and some other people were in — and then enjoy each other at dinner and develop a friendship, but learn along the way.
“He was a lot of fun and it was good to have him.”
The fellowship with Popovich was a godsend for Kidd.
“I know that it was really nice to be able to spend time,” Kidd said. “For him to open his door to come in and see those guys, to be able to work and how the Spurs do their thing (was fun).”
MOSES COMING ALONG: Coach Jason Kidd said Mavs 7-2 center Moses Brown in coming along swimmingly.
Acquired in a trade with the Boston Celtics this past summer, Brown has played a total of 18 minutes in just six games. But Kidd said his attitude has been great.
“He’s doing well,” Kidd said. “He’s working extremely hard. He spends a lot of time with our coaching staff.
“During our meetings there’s been times that his name has come up to try to find playing time for him. We’ll see how that works out. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do, but he’s going in the right direction.”
KLEBER TO RETURN NEXT WEEK?: Maxi Kleber will be ready to play again at some point next week.
Kleber hasn’t played since straining his back in the first quarter of the Oct. 31 game against the Sacramento Kings. The Mavs originally said he would be sidelined seven-to-10 days.
“We said 10 days and I think we’re just off a couple,” coach Jason Kidd said. “So we’ll probably make an announcement on Monday about where he stands with his health.”
Briefly: With 32 points, 12 rebounds and 15 assists against the Spurs on Friday, Luka Doncic registered his first triple-double of this season and the 37th of his career. That’s also the second-most triple-doubles by any player 22 years old or younger in NBA history. Oscar Robertson leads the pack with 38 triple-doubles by anyone age 22 or younger. Right behind Doncic are Magic Johnson (31), Ben Simmons (22) and LeBron James (14). . .Doncic has more triple-doubles against the Spurs (four) than against any other franchise. He also has three triple-doubles each against Golden State, Milwaukee, Sacramento and New Orleans. . .The 30 assists the Mavs recorded Friday were a season high. The previous high were the 27 they had this past Monday against New Orleans.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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