Coronavirus: Hockey, basketball are back, but only virtually

Athletes like Alex Ovechkin and Bradley Beal are on the bench because of the coronavirus, but that doesn’t mean the NHL and NBA won’t be seen this weekend on television.

NBC Sports Washington will be broadcasting video game simulations of both the Capitals and the Wizards starting Saturday.

Each game will be a one-hour virtual game of the now-canceled real-life scheduled games, WRC reported.

Monumental Sports Network and NBC Sports Washington will present one-hour video game simulations of previously scheduled @WashWizards (NBA) and @Capitals (NHL) games beginning this weekend.#ALLCAPS https://t.co/CFJuOVtUOv
— Caps Gaming (@capsgaming) March 20, 2020

The Wizards will tip off at 7 p.m. Saturday as they take on the Milwaukee Bucks, thanks to NBA2K20.

The Capitals will face off against the St. Louis Blues Tuesday at 7 p.m., using NHL 20 with the real Capitals announcers providing the commentary.

The games will be aired in the Washington, D.C., market, but also on the Monumental Sports web site and apps available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV and Xbox, WRC reported.

The NBA season was suspended its season on March 11, CBS News reported.

The NHL followed basketball's lead the next day, ESPN reported.

Both leagues hope to resume the seasons at some point in the future.

In Other News

Coroner needs help finding family of a man found dead in Madison Twp.

Clark State near final approval to offer in-demand bachelor’s of...

5 Frisch’s Big Boy locations in Cincinnati are set to have eviction...

SantaCon in Springfield is Saturday, and prizes will be awarded

Miami University forms committee for new sports arena, hotel

About the Author

Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk