Wednesday night’s game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz was postponed right before tip-off at Chesapeake Energy Arena due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
Breaking: The Thunder-Jazz game has been postponed to a later date, per the NBA. pic.twitter.com/4z8liN5Kra
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 12, 2020
There was understandably panic and confusion due to coronavirus concerns, with Utah’s Rudy Gobert and Emmanuel Mudiay reportedly having illnesses. There was particulary concern over Gobert’s status with rumors circulating.
Well, Yahoo Sports’ Shams Charania confirmed shortly after the postponement that Gobert has tested positive for coronavirus.
Utah Jazz All-Star Rudy Gobert has tested positive for coronavirus, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
Sources say Gobert is feeling good, strong and stable — and was feeling strong enough to play tonight.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 12, 2020
And minutes later, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the NBA “has suspended the season.”
The NBA has suspended the season.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 12, 2020
The NBA released a statement, saying that they are “suspending game play following the conclusion of Wednesday’s schedule of games until further notice.”
The NBA announced that a player on the Utah Jazz has preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19. The test result was reported shortly prior to the tip-off of Wednesday’s game between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. At that time, Wednesday’s game was canceled. The affected player was not in the arena.
The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of Wednesday’s schedule of games until further notice. The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier on Wednesday, the NCAA announced that the NCAA Tournament would play their games without fans in attendance, and Wojnarowski reported that the NBA intended to do the same. But with Gobert testing positive for coronavirus, the league understandably decided to just shut the games down.
Here’s Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban learning of the hiatus:
https://twitter.com/thecomeback/status/1237917526954254336
The NHL reportedly doesn’t intend to suspend their games yet:
Source: the NHL won’t suspend play…at least not immediately. https://t.co/pu9BRQ95t2
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) March 12, 2020
Update: The Utah Jazz released a statement.
The Jazz just released this statement: pic.twitter.com/RkHPAPlX0P
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) March 12, 2020
Update II: The Pelicans-Kings game was shut down before tip-off on Wednesday night in Sacramento. Referee Courtney Kirkland was set to officiate Wednesday’s game, and did so for Monday’s Jazz-Raptors game.
And now, the final NBA game of the evening – Pelicans-Kings – has been canceled. One of the referees worked Monday's Jazz-Raptors game pic.twitter.com/My9cFKDVEJ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 12, 2020
