Thunder and Jazz both head to locker rooms as refs reportedly await confirmation from the league to start the game. pic.twitter.com/aJk6CK5QzK
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 12, 2020
UPDATE: According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Rudy Gobert has contracted the 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
It seems every hour something unprecedented in sports is happening related to the spread of coronavirus.
The latest took place in Oklahoma City on Wednesday night when a Thunder-Jazz game was postponed moments before tip-off. The scare created a surreal scene where players and coaches headed back to the locker room while an arena full of confused fans remained in their seats. The OKC medical doctor reportedly sprinted onto the court just before the game started. After about 15 minutes it was announced that the game would not be played, with the PA announcer telling fans to leave the arena and that they were not in danger.
Royce Young of ESPN said on television that the postponement is believed to be related to players in the game. Both Rudy Gobert and Emmanuel Mudiay were scratched from the game due to illness. According to Toby Jones of The Athletic, both teams are currently quarantined in their locker rooms.
.@royceyoung reports that the Thunder-Jazz game was seconds away from tipping off when the Thunder's head medical staffer sprinted onto the floor to talk to referees in Oklahoma City.
At that point, players and staff were sent back to their respective locker rooms. pic.twitter.com/WsSOU09kVP
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 12, 2020