Tonight the NBA has announced they are suspending their season.
The @nba has announced that it will be suspending play following tonight’s games in response to coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/1kO0hzmhy5
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) March 12, 2020
This situation arose Wednesday evening before a game between the Utah Jazz and the Oklahoma City Thunder. That game was cancelled.
The Jazz and Thunder players are currently quarantined in the OKC arena, league sources tell ESPN. This is following Rudy Gobert testing positive for the coronavirus.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 12, 2020
The Toronto Raptors played the Jazz in their building on March 9, and have returned home to Toronto ahead of a home game that was scheduled for March 14.
The NHL is expected to make a statement soon.
Related
NHL does not follow the NBA in suspending play
Raptor’s official statement:
Toronto Raptors Statement On Suspension Of The NBA Season
Posted: Mar 12, 2020
The safety of our players, staff, fans and the media who cover our team is paramount. While we are disappointed the NBA season has been suspended because of the COVID-19 global pandemic, we completely support the league’s decision.
The Toronto Raptors played the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Monday night, and as is usual during an NBA game, the players were in close physical contact. On Wednesday evening, testing revealed that a Jazz player tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
Out of an abundance of caution, members of the Raptors traveling party have been tested for the virus. We await those results. Our players, coaches and traveling staff have all been advised to go into self-isolation for 14 days, which means minimizing contact in accordance with public health guidelines. Our team doctors remain in communication with infection control specialists and public health authorities, and we will continue to abide by their advice.
Since returning from Utah on Tuesday morning, team members have made two public appearances. According to Toronto Public Health, being in close contact with someone who does not have COVID-19, but was exposed to someone with COVID-19, does not constitute a risk for getting COVID-19 and does not require public health follow up. People who attended these events should continue to monitor their health, practice social distancing and hand washing, and contact a health professional should they develop symptoms.
The Raptors are very grateful to our community of fans, friends, and family for their support through this season, and for their understanding as we face this unprecedented situation together.