Desmond Bane, Kyle Anderson enter health and safety protocols for Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies will head into one of their toughest remaining stretches without two key players. Guard Desmond Bane and forward Kyle Anderson have entered health and safety protocols. Both players will be out Wednesday on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks.

This is the second time Anderson has been in protocols this month. He previously entered on Jan. 2 and missed four games.

Bane has been one of the team's most consistent players. He's only missed one game and his shooting skills mixed with his cutting ability has made him a perfect pairing with point guard Ja Morant.

Memphis (31-15) has been one of the NBA's least efficient teams on 3-pointers in January, shooting 32.1% . In that same stretch, Bane is shooting 45% on 3-pointers and has made three or more 3-pointers in six of eight games played this month.

NBA players who test positive for COVID-19 can now return in six days as opposed to 10 at the beginning of the season. If Bane or Anderson tested positive, they will miss games on the road against the Bucks, Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks.

With Brandon Clarke's emergence in the frontcourt and recent big games from Ziaire Williams and John Konchar, Memphis is capable of holding the fort, but Bane's absence highlights the shooting concerns.

Memphis is one game above the Utah Jazz (29-15) for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and 1.5 games behind the Golden State Warriors (31-12).

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Contact Damichael Cole at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com and on Twitter @damichaelc

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies lose Desmond Bane, Kyle Anderson to COVID protocols