The Golden State Warriors have been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak, with multiple key players sidelined while in the NBA's health and safety protocols. While the team is down a few vital pieces, one member of the rotation is nearly ready to make his return to the floor. According to Shams Charania, Jordan Poole has cleared the league's protocols and will be returning to the Bay Area ahead of the Warriors matchup with the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.

The Warriors are hosting the Nuggets on Tuesday night, and Poole should be back in the rotation for the first time since Dec. 17. Poole has missed the team's past five games while in the league's protocols, though the team has fared fine without him, going 4-1 during that span with key wins against the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, and the Memphis Grizzlies, though they were blown out by 19 in a loss to the Toronto Raptors.

On the year, Poole is averaging 17.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while knocking down 2.6 3's per game at a 33.8% clip. 2021 has been the best season of Poole's three-year career, with the former Michigan standout having started all 28 games he featured in for the Warriors.

With Poole returning from health and safety protocols, the Warriors will be getting a key piece of the rotation back. They'll still be without the likes of Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Moses Moody and Damion Lee, all of whom remain in the league's COVID protocol. The team will be hoping to get back to full strength in short order, especially with Klay Thompson set to return from his lengthy absence.