The NBA suspended its season from today forward after Jazz C Rudy Gobert "tested preliminary positive for coronavirus." As last night's Jazz-Thunder game in Oklahoma City was about to tip off, the Jazz "received results" of the test. The "three officials and head coaches for both teams huddled up, and sent their teams off the court." After about 20 minutes, the "crowd was sent home." Shortly thereafter, the league issued a statement on the season suspension, and the Jazz issued a statement on Gobert's medical testing. After the teams left the floor, Oklahoma health officials "came to Chesapeake Energy Arena to test the Jazz players, staff, and traveling personnel -- including media -- for COVID-19." The process took "about six hours" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 3/12).
After the arena cleared, workers "began spraying down both teams' benches and the court-side seats with X-Effect cleaner" (OKLAHOMAN, 3/12). The DESERET NEWS goes with, "Jazz Writer Talks About Being In The Arena When The NBA Suspended Its Season."
At least some players from teams who faced the Jazz in recent days "are being told to self-quarantine." League sources said that players and coaches from the Raptors, Pistons, Celtics, Knicks and Cavaliers also were "scrambling to be tested as early as Wednesday night after learning of Gobert's diagnosis" (ESPN.com, 3/12). However, one report indicated that the Cavs had not been "told to stay home and self-quarantine" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 3/12). As of Tuesday night, no Celtics players were "believed to be experiencing any symptoms of illness" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/12). Sources said that "none of the Knicks players will be tested for coronavirus just yet" (N.Y. POST, 3/12).
Late last night, the G League announced that "it too was going to be suspended indefinitely" (DESERET NEWS, 3/12).
