(Tampa) The Toronto Raptors will notably be without Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby in Tampa against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.

These starting players will be absent in connection with the protocols of the NBA concerning the pandemic, like Patrick McCaw and Malachi Flynn.

Jalen Harris and Donta Hall were called in to reinforce the Raptors' G League branch, the 905.

Originally, the game against the Pistons was postponed "due to positive tests and contact tracing with the Raptors," the NBA said.

Toronto was host Chicago on Sunday, but it was postponed - 31 ^th  postponement in the NBA this season, involving 27 teams.

Nick Nurse, five of his assistants and Siakam were already sidelined Friday, in a game where the Raptors defeated the Houston Rockets.

Sergio Scariolo was in charge of the club and he will be in charge again on Wednesday.

Nurse and the deputies in question remain unavailable in connection with protocols, mentioned Bobby Webster, general manager of the Raptors.

He expects them to also miss Thursday's meeting in Boston - the Raptors' last game before the All-Star break.

Webster said consecutive days without a new COVID-19 case resulted in team training on Tuesday.

Siakam and VanVleet lead the Raptors with 20.1 points per game this season. Anunoby is fifth, with 13.8.

The Raptors will start the second leg of the season on March 11 in Tampa, against the Atlanta Hawks.