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Pels-Mavs, Celtics-Bulls called off due to COVID-19 protocols

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The NBA has announced the postponement of Monday's meeting between the New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks, as well as Tuesday's game between the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls, due to health and safety protocols.

The league also said it will meet Monday with the players' union to discuss changing its protocols.

Additionally, the NBA will hold a conference call with general managers Monday, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Discussions will reportedly include pregame and postgame on-court socializing, the length of practices and shootarounds, and more rigid mask rules.

A meeting between the league's board of governors has also been scheduled for Tuesday, sources told Wojnarowski.

The dual cancellations come a day after it was reported that the league doesn't plan to pause the 2020-21 campaign despite the recent spate of positive COVID-19 tests.

Four games have been suspended this season due to COVID-19 concerns. Boston has now had its last two contests called off after the Miami Heat were unable to dress the minimum eight eligible players for Sunday's matchup.

The Oklahoma City Thunder's Dec. 23 visit to Houston was the first game to be shelved this season.

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