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Heat-Pistons tipoff pushed back due to health protocols

Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Monday's game between the Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat has been pushed back to an 8 p.m. ET start time, the Heat announced.

The delayed tipoff is linked to COVID-19 safety protocols, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Ira Winderman. The announcement came down approximately 90 minutes prior to the expected 3 p.m. ET start.

Each team needs a minimum of eight healthy players in uniform for a game to take place. To date, 14 contests have been postponed indefinitely, largely due to the league's contact-tracing measures.

The Pistons had ruled out one player as of Sunday evening (Killian Hayes), while the Heat listed three (Jimmy Butler, Avery Bradley, and Meyers Leonard). Additionally, Tyler Herro was listed as questionable due to neck spasms, while Gabe Vincent was deemed probable to play through right knee soreness.

Last week, the league office reportedly instructed teams to seek out testing providers in their home markets to add a third COVID-19 test prior to games.

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