The NBA has postponed Wednesday’s season opener between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder due to COVID-19 concerns in accordance with the league’s coronavirus policy.
The decision arrived after multiple players returned either positive or inconclusive COVID-19 tests with contract tracing forcing others into quarantine. The league also ruled out James Harden for violating the league’s COVID-19 protocols, leaving the Rockets without enough players to field a team for their season opener.
The league announced the news Wednesday afternoon in a statement:
“Three Houston Rockets players have returned tests that were either positive or inconclusive for coronavirus under the NBA’s testing program.