NBA players who test positive for COVID-19 now have a quicker path to return to play, after the league completed a significant update to its health and safety protocols on Monday.

The biggest change: Isolation periods for players who test positive may now be significantly shortened – down to six days from what has been the customary 10 – provided those players are asymptomatic and meet other testing standards. Teams were told of the new protocols Monday in a memo sent by the league, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press.

That memo was sent on the same day the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cut isolation restrictions for Americans who catch the coronavirus from 10 to five days. CDC officials made that move saying that evidence shows people with the coronavirus are most infectious in the two days before and three days after symptoms develop.

The NBA also relied on data, telling teams the updated protocols “reflects analysis of testing data that the league and its infectious disease experts and epidemiologists have gathered throughout the pandemic.” The changes were made in agreement with the National Basketball Players Association.

The NBA has seen coronavirus numbers soar in recent days, even with 97% of players vaccinated and at least 65% of eligible players boosted against the virus. A pair of coaches – Phoenix’s Monty Williams and Portland’s Chauncey Billups – entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols Monday.

“In the league, everyone’s kind of going through the same thing,” said Suns assistant Kevin Young, who is taking over in Williams’ absence. “We had a slogan going back to last year – navigating uncertainty – and here we are.”

More proof of the uncertainty: The Suns had been listing Elfrid Payton as out and in the protocols throughout the day on Monday, then declared him available about 90 minutes before game time.

The Blazers said the team will be coached by assistant Scott Brooks, a longtime head coach, during Billups’ absence.

The count of players in the NBA’s protocols remained around 120 on Monday evening.

Atlanta listed 12 players as out – 10 for virus reasons, two for injuries – for its game against Chicago, but the Hawks said guard Trae Young was cleared to return, making that announcement about 90 minutes before tip-off.

MONDAY’S GAMES

HORNETS 123, ROCKETS 99: Terry Rozier scored 27 points and made seven 3-pointers, and Charlotte routed visiting Houston for its second straight win.

Kelly Oubre chipped in with 18 points, and LaMelo Ball and Jalen McDaniels had 16. Mason Plumlee finished with a season-high 15 points and nine rebounds for the Hornets, who pulled back above .500 on the season.

Eric Gordon and Christian Wood each had 16 points for the Rockets, who’ve lost six of their last seven games. Houston played without starters Jae’Sean Tate and Garrison Matthews, and key backups K.J. Martin and D.J. Augustin because of the NBA’s health and safety protocols.

BULLS 130, HAWKS 118: DeMar DeRozan scored 35 points, Zach LaVine added 30 and visiting Chicago won its fourth straight game, beating short-handed Atlanta.

Cam Reddish finished with 33 points and Trae Young, cleared from health and safety protocols about 90 minutes before the game, returned to the starting lineup and scored 29 for Atlanta.

JAZZ 110, SPURS 104: Jordan Clarkson scored 23 points, Rudy Gobert had 16 points and 13 rebounds, and visiting Utah won its fourth straight.

Bojan Bogdanovic had 19 points and Joe Ingles added 17 for Utah, which has won 12 of 14.

Derrick White scored 21 points and Doug McDermott added 17 for San Antonio, who had its season-high, three-game winning streak snapped.