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Wednesday's matchup between the Utah Jazz and the Oklahoma City Thunder was abruptly halted minutes before tip-off and local police have closed the Chesapeake Energy Arena. The players reportedly left the premises after pregame reports of illnesses, though no official explanation has been given, per CBS Tulsa's Brian Dorman.
From @ClaytonCummins: "Per FOX Sports Radio- OKC Thunder/Utah Jazz players walk out of arena before the game begins. Illnesses before the game caused a delay. They’re waiting on the @NBA to issue further instruction."
— Brian Dorman 💙 (@BDormanTV) March 12, 2020
The starting lineups had been announced and the teams were ready to go before the officials met for a conversation, followed by both teams quickly heading back to the locker rooms. The game was briefly delayed before the arena announced it had been been postponed indefinitely, though insisted the Thunder fans in attendance were not in danger (reassuring!).
PA announcer says “due to unforeseen circumstances the game has been postponed. You are all safe”
— Sarah Todd (@NBASarah) March 12, 2020
The Oklahoma City faithful were not thrilled about the last-minute decision. Here's video of the crowd being asked to leave the arena.
Jazz-Thunder game has officially been postponed. Fans have been asked to leave Chesapeake Energy Arena. pic.twitter.com/i0rm4khahI
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 12, 2020
It's highly likely that more NBA games could be postponed or cancelled in the wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. On Wednesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and the league's Board of Governors came to a resolution to play the regular season's remaining games without fans in attendance, and the notion of taking a hiatus or cancelling the rest of the season has been floated. The rest of Wednesday's NBA action was proceeding as usual, for now.
If the Jazz-Thunder matchup isn't rescheduled but we do get a postseason at least (knock on wood), these two teams could next face off in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Utah (41-23) currently leads Oklahoma City (40-24) by one game for the No. 4 seed.
