After deciding to play upcoming games in empty arenas, the NBA suspends season play following the conclusion of Wednesday’s schedule of games until further notice.
The NBA announced that a player on the Utah Jazz–identified in other press reports as Rudy Gobert–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–but, as this article was posted, players from both teams were quarantined in the arena.
According to a press statement, NBA officials will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.
League owners had agreed on move forward on a plan to play in empty arenas before the coronavirus diagnosis changed the discussion.
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