SAFETY COMES FIRST

COVID-19 infection halts Thunder-76ers game

The Thunder76 e rs game scheduled for Sunday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena was postponed 90 minutes before tip-off.

Philadelphia did not have the league-required eight available players due to contact tracing within the organization, the NBA announced.

Several 76ers were on the court warming up when the announcement was made. They were ushered back to the visitors locker room.

ESP N' s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the 76ers' contact tracing was connected with their Saturday night game against the Grizzlies in Memphis.

Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the 76ers had no new positive COVID-19 tests.

The arena was cleared after the 4:30 p.m. announcement, but the Thunder didn't go home. With everyone together, Thunder coach Mark Daign ea ult decided to practice Sunday night at the arena, according to a a team spokesman.

The Thunder won' t return to Chesapeake Energy Arena until Jan. 29 against the Nets. The team will soon head out on a five-game road trip starting Tuesday night in Denver.

Sunday marked the second postponed game of the Thunder's season. Oklahoma City's scheduled season opener at Houston was postponed due to the Rockets not having eight available players.

Sunday night also brought back memories of March 11, when the

Thunder's game against the Jazz was postpo ned seconds before tip-off when it became known that Jazz center Rudy Go bert had tested positive for the coronavirus.

But this time there were no fans in the stands, and C OVID-related postponements have now become common in what's been a bumpy 2020-21 NBA season.