Steve Clifford Leaves Magic Game With Illness and Taken to Hospital

Amid the coronavirus panic, the NBA is acting with extreme caution.

This includes in-game incidents. Just moments after it was revealed the NBA sent a memo preparing teams to play in front of empty stadiums due to the pandemic, Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford left the team's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves as a precaution after feeling visibly ill on the bench. There is no evidence that the Magic medical team believes Clifford has any coronavirus symptoms. If anything, this is just a precaution, as the 58-year-old had two stents placed in his heart in 2013.

Clifford isn't the first member of the NBA fraternity to get sick on Friday, as Trae Young didn't play in the Hawks' contest against the Wizards as he wasn't feeling well throughout the day. Young has since tweeted that he is feeling just fine.

It's common for athletes and coaches to miss games with "flu-like symptoms" but given the age we live in, and the constant panic surrounding the coronavirus, it's always best to be cautious.

Here's to hoping Clifford recovers soon.