Team USA fighting COVID-19 cases

Team USA is fighting a challenging scenario with COVID-19 as it tries to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics.

The Americans lost a player Thursday and put another in the health and safety protocol. USA Basketball announced late Thursday night that the men’s basketball game against Australia scheduled for Friday night in Las Vegas had been canceled “out of an abundance of caution.”

Bradley Beal, who was placed in the protocol Wednesday, was ruled out of the Olympics on Thursday. Jerami Grant was also placed into the protocol out of caution, though coach Gregg Popovich expressed optimism that the forward would remain with the team.

Friday’s game was scheduled for 6 p.m. ET. The Australian team is under even stricter protocols than the Americans, which might have played a part in Friday’s cancellation, sources said earlier Thursday. Team USA’s final exhibition game is scheduled for Sunday against Spain, with a charter to Japan set for Monday.