It took nearly four hours, but the Oklahoma City Thunder were finally permitted to leave Chesapeake Energy Arena on Wednesday night after the team was quarantined in their locker room for fear of exposure to the coronavirus.
Scheduled to play host to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night, merely minutes before tip-off, it was learned that Jazz center Rudy Gobert had tested presumptive positive for the coronavirus. The game was postponed as a result, with each team returning to their respective locker rooms.
According to ESPN’s Royce Young, the Thunder players remained in the locker room for nearly four hours. The players eventually had fever tests administered before being permitted to leave.
As a result of Gobert’s testing positive, the NBA announced that it has suspended play indefinitely.
The Thunder were lined up and had a fever test done, though. But did not have the coronavirus test done. As of 10:35pm CT, the Jazz has not been tested. They are currently in their locker room, according to sources, lined up with masks on, waiting to have the test administered.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) March 12, 2020
Following the Dallas Mavericks’ victory over the visiting Denver Nuggets, Mark Cuban addressed reporters and let it be known that while play has been suspended indefinitely, the league is permitting teams to convene for practice.
Fortunately for the Thunder, according to Young, Gobert was not present at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The hope is that Thunder players and fans had limited exposure to him.
The Jazz players remained at Chesapeake Energy Arena and were administered coronavirus tests. Depending on the results of those exams, the club’s return home to Salt Lake City may be delayed.