OKLAHOMA CITY- The energy inside the arena shifted over the course of minutes.
With fears of the Coronavirus fresh on the minds of the nation, any small delay would inevitably be magnified.
Fears became reality over the course of two hours in Oklahoma City.
The Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder were primed for a Western Conference battle laden with playoff implications.
After player introductions but before tip-off, the referees called both coaches to center court for a discussion. Minutes later, both teams were ushered back to their respective locker rooms, and it was announced over the arena loudspeaker that the game had been delayed pending “league confirmation”.
Here is my timeline of how the night panned out:
7:12 p.m.: Coaches and referees conference at mid-court
Tip-off between the Thunder and the Jazz was delayed by a conversation between Jazz coach Quin Snyder, Thunder coach Billy Donovan and the officials. After a few minutes, both teams returned to their locker rooms.
Tip-off delayed. Both coaches and the officials are conferencing at mid-court. Teams back on benches.
— Ryan Chapman (@RadiosRyan) March 12, 2020
7:37 p.m.: Game officially postponed
After almost a half hour delay, it was again announced over the arena loudspeaker that the game would be postponed.
Official #UTAvsOKC pic.twitter.com/tpvR4gpbTr
— Ryan Chapman (@RadiosRyan) March 12, 2020
During the initial delay, the Thunder rolled out their halftime performers as well as the “Storm chasers”, Oklahoma City’s in arena “hype crew”, to keep the fans entertained.
Scenes at the Peake.
Rumble taking half court shots.
Storm chasers trying to keep crowd involved.
No sign of the teams or referees. pic.twitter.com/vJhEVzNcJK
— Ryan Chapman (@RadiosRyan) March 12, 2020
The announcement was met with frustration by the Oklahoma City crowd, with groans and boos raining down from the stands.
Fans were encouraged to leave the arena, but were not rushed out or anything of the sort.
An orderly evacuation occurred, and most of the fans had left the main arena area within approximately 25 minutes.
Both teams were restricted to their locker rooms until further notice.
8:27 p.m.: First confirmation of Coronavirus
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium said Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the novel Coronavirus in a statement on Twitter.
Utah Jazz All-Star Rudy Gobert has tested positive for coronavirus, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
Sources say Gobert is feeling good, strong and stable — and was feeling strong enough to play tonight.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 12, 2020
Charania’s statement was the first confirmation of any test results, as no information had been disseminated at that time in the arena.
8:31 p.m.: NBA season suspended
Moments later, Charania announced the NBA season has been suspended, again in a statement on Twitter.
The NBA has suspended its season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 12, 2020
Again, no information had been distributed in the arena at that point.
Simultaneously, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN announced the same news on Twitter.
8:33 p.m.: Official league release
Fred Katz of The Athletic passed the NBA’s official press release in a statement on Twitter.
Official release from the league about suspending the season: pic.twitter.com/dvsI7hgxBM
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) March 12, 2020
Per the release, it appeared Gobert was in Oklahoma City, OK., but had not stepped foot in the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Around 8:50 p.m.: Confirmation Gobert not in the arena
Shortly after the league’s statement, I was able to independently verify with a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder communications staff that Gobert had not in fact entered the arena.
Here’s what I know:
No statement from the Jazz or Thunder tonight. All info flowing through the League.
Rudy Gobert was not in the Chesapeake Energy Arena this evening.
I have been told I’m free to stay at the Peake, go home, all of that.
— Ryan Chapman (@RadiosRyan) March 12, 2020
9:23 p.m.: Utah Jazz release a statement
The Jazz shed some light on the situation almost two hours after the game was postponed.
The Jazz just released this statement: pic.twitter.com/RkHPAPlX0P
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) March 12, 2020
“A preliminary positive result came back right before tip-off,” the release said.
Gobert is still in the hands of health professionals in Oklahoma City the release went on to say.
10:20 p.m.: Thunder players released
A member of the Thunder Communications team confirmed Oklahoma City’s players have been released and were permitted to head home.
At this point, the Utah Jazz are still being confined to the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
The Utah Jazz are still in the arena.
The #Thunder have been released and have gone home.
— Ryan Chapman (@RadiosRyan) March 12, 2020
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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