Familiar buzz brewing inside bubble

Zion nears return

Zion Williamson could still make the season's reopening night.

The Pelicans said on Wednesday that Williamson, who left the NBA bubble last week for a family matter, is being tested daily for the coronavirus and continues showing negative results. If that continues, Williamson may have to quarantine for only four days when he returns to the team.

And if that return comes in the next few days, that means he could still have a shot of playing when New Orleans faces the Utah Jazz on July 30 in the first of the 88 seeding games at Disney.

"While there is no current timetable for his return to campus, he fully intends to rejoin the team," the Pelicans said in a statement. "Per NBA protocol, his quarantine period will be determined upon his return."

The minimum quarantine Williamson would have to serve for leaving, even though he was officially excused, is the four-day option.

The former Duke star has played in 19 games this season, averaging 23.6 points and 6.8 rebounds. He also missed the actual opening night of the season, when New Orleans played in Toronto against the reigning champion Raptors.

Westbrook's message

Houston guard Russell Westbrook, whose arrival in Florida was delayed after he tested positive for the coronavirus, arrived on Monday and got on the practice floor with his team for the first time Wednesday.

It's unclear if he will play in Houston's first scrimmage at Disney on Friday. But he had a message to fans about how seriously they should take the coronavirus.

"I'm not a doctor nor a specialist, but I do know that it's definitely something to take very seriously," Westbrook said. "Wearing a mask can be between life or death, honestly.... People are dying from this virus each and every day, and it's something that we all need to take very, very seriously."

Westbrook said the worst of his symptoms was nasal congestion.

Tall order

The short-handed Denver Nuggets went with a tall starting lineup in their exhibition opener against Washington.

Really, really tall.

The breakdown: 7-foot Nikola Jokic at point guard, 6-8 Jerami Grant at shooting guard, 7-2 Bol Bol at strong forward, 6-7 Paul Millsap at power forward and 6-11 Mason Plumlee in the middle.

"Might have been the biggest lineup in NBA history," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.

Malone didn't have much of a choice. He held out Will Barton III and Jamal Murray for precautionary reasons. He didn't have Torrey Craig or Gary Harris, who just recently arrived into the bubble. But reinforcements will soon arrive with Michael Porter Jr. on his way to Florida.

"Give our guys a lot of credit," Malone said. "We had a lot of guys step in and play positions that aren't their natural, comfortable positions."

Rookie Bol had 16 points and 10 rebounds in 32 minutes. He didn't play in a regular-season game and missed most of the year with a left foot injury.

"I'm very impressed," said Troy Daniels, who was one of the few actual guards the Nuggets had available and led the team with 22 points. "He has a lot of potential."

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