Celtics’ Smart & 2 Lakers have virus

The number of known coronavirus cases within the NBA doubled to 14 on Thursday, when Marcus Smart of the Celtics revealed he tested positive and the Lakers said two of their players tested positive as well, bringing the number of players who have acquired the virus to 10. The 76ers said three members of their organization tested positive and the Nuggets said someone within their franchise was positive as well.

The 76ers and Nuggets did not say if the affected people were players, coaches or other staff.

“I’ve had no symptoms and I feel great,” Smart said on Twitter. “But the younger generation in our country MUST self distance. This is not a joke. Not doing so is selfish. Together we can beat this, but we must beat it together by being apart for a short while.”

Smart said he waited five days for his test results.

“I’ve been self-quarantined since the test, thank goodness,” Smart tweeted. “COVID-19 must be taken with the highest level of seriousness. I know it’s a (hash)1 priority for our nations health experts, & we must get more testing ASAP.”

The Nets, Utah and Detroit join the Celtics and Lakers as teams known to have players who have tested positive. In all, seven NBA teams — when adding the 76ers and Nuggets — have revealed positive tests.

Smart and the Celtics played Utah on March 6. The Jazz has two players dealing with the virus.

Thursday was the eighth full day of the NBA’s shutdown because of the virus. That brings the total of games missed to 57, including the two called off on March 11.