The N.B.A. will suspend its season after a Utah Jazz player was found to have tested positive for the coronavirus, the league announced on Wednesday. The league said the suspension would take effect after the completion of Wednesday’s schedule.
The announcement came after a game between the Jazz and the Thunder at Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Arena on Wednesday night was postponed for reasons that were not immediately clear.
“The N.B.A. will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic,” the league said in its statement.
NBA To Suspend Season Following Tonight’s Games pic.twitter.com/2PTx2fkLlW
— NBA (@NBA) March 12, 2020
In Oklahoma City, the game was seconds away from starting when the Thunder’s head medical staffer sprinted onto the court to talk to referees. Players from both teams then left for their locker rooms.
After about a 20-minute delay that included a dance number and a musical performance, the arena’s public-address announcer informed the crowd that the game had been postponed “due to unforeseen circumstances.” He urged calm as fans headed toward the exits. Many of them booed.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Source: Basketball - nytimes.com
