Photo/Illutration A worker walks through the front entrance of National Stadium Wednesday, June 23, 2021, in Tokyo, one month before the July 23 opening of Tokyo Olympics. (AP Photo)

Basketball fans lucky enough to win a lottery to see NBA players battle for Olympic gold, including the star-studded U.S. squad, may see their precious tickets turn into worthless pieces of paper.

Saitama Governor Motohiro Ono on June 23 demanded that organizers of the Tokyo Games ban spectators from attending games held after 9 p.m. to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus infections.

If his demand is granted, superstar Kevin Durant and local hero Rui Hachimura would have to play in an empty arena.

Saitama Super Arena in Saitama city will host many Olympic games for men’s and women’s basketball. Some of the games, including the qualifying round match between France and the United States, are scheduled to start at 9 p.m. and end at 11 p.m.

“I demand the events be held behind closed doors after 9 p.m.,” Ono said at a liaison council meeting of the heads of prefectures where Olympic and Paralympic venues are located, the central government and the Tokyo Games organizers.

Pre-emergency measures to battle the virus have been extended in Saitama Prefecture, which is located just north of Tokyo. For the prefectural capital of Saitama, all events are supposed to end by 9 p.m.

Durant and James Harden of the Brooklyn Nets, Devin Booker representing the Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard and other big-name NBA players have reportedly committed to play for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics.

Team Japan, joined by Hachimura of the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors forward Yuta Watanabe, is scheduled to play against Spain on June 26, and the game time is 9 p.m.

The quarterfinals and semifinals for both the men’s and women’s basketball events will be held after 9 p.m.

Ono’s proposed deadline may also affect games that are scheduled to start at 8 p.m. and end after 9 p.m.

Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai, whose prefecture will host surfing, wrestling and other Olympic events, agreed with Ono, urging the organizers, “No fans after 9 p.m. unless the situation improves drastically.”

If their requests are granted and expanded, the 9 p.m. deadline could also affect 3X3 basketball games at Aomi Urban Sports Park in Tokyo’s Koto Ward, volleyball games at Ariake Arena in the same ward, and handball matches at Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward, among other events.

Seiko Hashimoto, chief of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee, said organizers will pay attention to the infection situation and make a decision by July 11, when the pre-emergency measures are scheduled to be lifted.

The organizers on June 21 announced that Olympic venues can be filled to 50 percent of capacity, with a maximum of 10,000 spectators, during the Games. Overseas spectators have already been banned from attending the Olympics.

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