VIDEO: NBA Games Delayed and Postponed as Teams Learned the Season Was Suspended During Live Games
The NBA season was suspended indefinitely on Wednesday night after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for Coronavirus. The news came down right before the Jazz were about to tip off a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the game was postponed. Moments earlier, Chris Paul went over to the Jazz bench to ask about Gobert and was told to get away.
Prior to tip-off as the game was delayed, Chris Paul ran over to the Utah bench and said “what’s wrong with Rudy?” and they all yelled for him to get away. Now all the players are quarantined in their locker rooms, being tested for the virus.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) March 12, 2020
After the game, players from both teams were quarantined. The fallout is happening all around the league as teams try to complete games. In Sacramento, they are dealing with the fact that one of the officials worked a Jazz game on Monday.
The Kings and Pelicans appear to have an issue here at the Golden 1 Center: Courtney Kirkland, one of the refs on the docket tonight, was part of the crew for Monday night's game between the Jazz and Toronto.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) March 12, 2020
Update: The Kings - Pelicans game was also postponed.
Shocked Kings fan stream out of Golden 1 Center after the game is canceled pic.twitter.com/LLXh1XUefB
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) March 12, 2020
Meanwhile, on ESPN, Mark Cuban was courtisde for the Mavericks game against the Denver Nuggets. Cuban was shown finding out the news on his phone and did an interview with Tom Rinaldi during the fourth quarter. Cuban mentioned the hourly workers who would be affected and said that they would put together a program for them.
Mark Cuban reacts moments after the NBA season was suspended. pic.twitter.com/4g8Z7yLts6
— ESPN (@espn) March 12, 2020
"This is crazy. This can't be true. ... It seemed more like out of a movie than reality."
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 12, 2020
—Mark Cuban explains his reaction to hearing that the NBA was suspending its season. pic.twitter.com/MHyrAD4D0f
Thunder and Jazz players were sent back to the locker room as officials wait for confirmation from the NBA to start the game. pic.twitter.com/xW9sC7OKN7
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 12, 2020
Here's the moment the Jazz & Thunder left the court in Oklahoma City. Reports say the game postponed because of illness to a player or players (reportedly Gobert & Mudiay among others) Announcer in the arena finished by saying "you're all safe" ...Yikes! pic.twitter.com/FJc5ayBPo0
— Dave Fox (@Davefox2) March 12, 2020