NBA Season Suspended After Utah Jazz Player Tested Positive for COVID-19

The league announced Wednesday that the NBA is suspending its season after a player preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19.

The announcement is made after the NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz was suddenly postponed on Wednesday night.

Players for both teams were on the court at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City for warm-ups but were called back to their locker rooms.

According to the report, the affected player is not present in the arena and the test results were reported shortly before tip-off.point 110 |

“The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice.

The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic,” the league said in a statement.point 127 |

The organization later decided to nix the last game of the night between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Sacramento Kings.

A referee assigned to work the game had previously worked in a Utah Jazz game, the NBA reported.point 79 |

The Utah Jazz said in a statement that a player on the team tested negative for strep throat, an upper respiratory infection and influenza Wednesday morning.

“The individual’s symptoms diminished over the course of today, however, in a precautionary measure, and in consultation and cooperation with NBA medical staff and Oklahoma health officials, the decision was made to test for COVID-19,” the Utah Jazz said.

The player is in the care of health officials in Oklahoma City, the team said.

“We wish this player a full and speedy recovery, and appreciate the work of health officials in Oklahoma to test a member of the Utah Jazz for COVID-19, as well as their prudent decision to test the entire team at this time,” Utah Gov.

Gary Herbert and Lt.point 17 | Gov.point 21 | Spencer Cox said in a joint statement.point 53 |

They added that they are working to identify individuals who have had close enough contact with the player as to have been potentially exposed.

Meanwhile, this announcement has left fans confused at the game.point 228 |

Juan Guerra II, who says he is an avid Thunder fan, told to CNN they had presented the National Anthem and announced the starting lineups.point 114 | 1

“And then boom, a guy in a suit started a joint conversation with all the referees, then both head coaches — next thing you knew the Jazz went into the locker room and then the Thunder,” the fan said.

The announcer at the game was heard telling fans that they were safe and to please leave the arena.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many sports leagues to consider making adjustments, including canceling events and holding games without fans.