SACRAMENTO, Calif. _ Rookie sensation Zion Williamson moved slowly through the hallway Wednesday night and shook his head as he exited Golden 1 Center on one of the most unnerving nights in NBA history.
The New Orleans Pelicans were supposed to play the Kings in a nationally televised game that might have propelled the winning team into the Western Conference playoffs. Some billed it as the biggest game yet at the Kings' downtown arena and the most important contest since their last postseason appearance in 2006, but these chapters in the Coming of Zion and Sacramento's comeback story may never be told.
The NBA postponed two games and suspended its season Wednesday after a player tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. Kings guard Kent Bazemore expressed disbelief as he left the arena, noting the Kings were one of the hottest teams in the league after going 13-7 over their past 20 games to making a surprising playoff run.
"It's crazy that it escalated that quickly," Bazemore said. "I don't really know what to say. This is the best we've been playing all year, so we were kind of excited to get out there for one of the biggest games of the year for us, and it kind of sucks that it's taken away. Hopefully they get it resolved and get us back on the floor."
Williamson could only shake his head as he headed through a door to uncertainty, unsure when or if his bullish rookie campaign will continue.
The developments Wednesday were swift and stunning. A team doctor ran onto the floor in Oklahoma City to confer with officials seconds before a game between the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder. One hour and 17 minutes after that discussion caused the game to be postponed, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Jazz center Rudy Gobert had tested positive for the coronavirus.
Four minutes later, the NBA announced it was suspending its season "until further notice" to "determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic." The league was moving toward playing games in empty arenas following a conference call with NBA owners earlier in the day, but the positive test of a player and the exposure to teammates, coaches and officials brought on an immediate shutdown.
"There are things that are bigger than basketball and this is one of them," Kings forward Harrison Barnes said.
Players and coaches have answered more and more questions about the coronavirus in recent days as the situation has worsened around the world. Gobert tested positive two days after jokingly touching all of the microphones and voice recorders in front of him during a news conference following the team's shootaround in Salt Lake City.
This move to suspend the NBA schedule was a stark reminded that this is no laughing matter. Gobert was tested in Oklahoma City _ more than 1,600 miles away from Sacramento _ but the Pelicans refused to leave their locker room after discovering referee Courtney Kirkland officiated one of Gobert's games Monday in Salt Lake City.
Pelicans general manager David Griffin declined to comment outside the locker room, but it was clear the Pelicans were leaving the arena several minutes before the public-address announcer told fans the game was being postponed.
Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry addressed the situation before the game, saying there are times when "drastic measures" are necessary, "and this might be one of them."
