The NBA says it is suspending its season after a player from the Utah Jazz, reportedly Rudy Gobert, "preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19."
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The basketball league said the test result was reported "shortly prior to the tip-off" of the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Utah Jazz in Oklahoma City, leading to the match's cancellation.
"The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight's schedule of games until further notice," the league said in a statement, adding it would use the hiatus "to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic."
The Jazz is home to Australia's Joe Ingles, who also plays for the Boomers.
The league said the affected player, reportedly centre Gobert, was not in the arena and players from both the Jazz and the Thunder were being quarantined at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.
At the time of the announcement, the Dallas Mavericks' home gam e against the Denver Nuggets was midway through the third quarter.
Two other games - the New York Knicks at the Atlanta Hawks and the Charlotte Hornets at the Miami Heat - were late in the fourth quarter.
All three games will be allowed to finish before the suspension goes into effect.
Australian Associated Press
