Report: NBA expected to play games without fans in attendance

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Updated, 9:57 p.m.

The NBA is suspending its season after a Utah Jazz player, identified by multiple reports as Rudy Gobert, preliminarily tested positive for the coronavirus.

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The NBA is expected to continue the season without fans in arenas because of the coronavirus outbreak, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported. 

Commissioner Adam Silver is “expected to move in that direction with a decision Thursday” after the NBA’s Board of Governors reached a consensus to play without fans moving forward, per ESPN.

Earlier Wednesday night, Wojnarowski had reported that the league was also considering taking a hiatus from games.

The Sixers are playing the Pistons on Wednesday at Wells Fargo Center, a decision the team said in a statement released about two hours before the game was “consistent with the recommendation of the NBA.”

The team entered Wednesday’s game an NBA-best 28-2 at home and 10-24 on the road, the worst away record among all teams currently in playoff position. 

Brett Brown and several players talked on Tuesday about the possibility of playing without fans in attendance

“It would be obviously a rough situation and not ideal by any stretch of the imagination,” Brown said. “If the people in the know felt like that was what was needed to provide the greatest level of safety, then that's what we will do. We all obviously hope it doesn't get to that stage."

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