NBA Suspends Season Following Wednesday Night's Games; Kings Game Canceled Due To Coronavirus Concerns
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — The NBA announced it will suspend the season following Wednesday night's games after an NBA player tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
The Sacramento Kings were set to play at 7:30 p.m. against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Golden 1 Center, but the game was postponed right around tip-off.
In an official statement from NBA Communications, the league said the game was "canceled out of an abundance of caution because one of the referees assigned to work in the game also worked a Utah Jazz game earlier this week. Earlier tonight, the NBA announced that a player on the Utah Jazz has preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19."
And there you have it... pic.twitter.com/9W0w3yysLz
— Marshall Harris (@mharrisonair) March 12, 2020
The NBA said a player on the Utah Jazz, Rudy Gobert, preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19 shortly before the tip-off of Wednesday's game between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma. Officials canceled that game when the test result was reported.
#Breaking Kings game now postponed. Fans leaving. Security telling them to finish alcohol before leaving. pic.twitter.com/ASWoC0FQHG
— stevelarge (@largesteven) March 12, 2020
Kings head coach Luke Walton told reporters before the game that he was not aware of any players exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. Walton said players have the option to be tested and access to doctors at their facility.
It was announced earlier in the day that the Golden State Warriors will play in an empty arena after San Francisco officials announced Wednesday they were banning gatherings of more than 1,000 people at public events for at least the next two weeks in wake of the local coronavirus outbreak.
The league said gameplay will be suspended following Wednesday night's schedule of games. The G League was also suspended following their games on Wednesday.
Earlier Wednesday NCAA President Mark Emmert announced that only essential staff and limited family will be allowed to attend the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Some games are scheduled to take place at the Golden 1 Center.