Pelicans-Kings canceled over coronavirus concerns with referee

The Sacramento Kings' home game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday has been canceled, the NBA announced.

Pelicans players refused to take the court due to concerns with referee Courtney Kirkland, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick.

Kirkland refereed Monday's game between the Utah Jazz and Toronto Raptors. Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.

"The game was canceled out of an abundance of caution because one of the referees assigned to work in the game also worked a Utah Jazz game earlier this week," the league's statement reads.

The Kings first announced the game had been postponed.

Utah's matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder was also postponed Wednesday. The Jazz later confirmed one of their players received a preliminary positive test result for COVID-19 but did not specify who.

The NBA indefinitely suspended the season effective Thursday. The rest of Wednesday's slate proceeded as scheduled.