The NBA Playoffs are officially on pause.
The NBA has postponed today’s playoff games after the Milwaukee Bucks refused to take the floor for their Game 5 matchup against the Orlando Magic.
Shortly thereafter, the Magic joined them in refusing to play, as did the the Rockets and the Thunder that were set to play afterwards. The Lakers/Trail Blazers game was also postponed.
The protest comes in light of the police shooting of Jacob Blake that happened over the weekend. Blake was shot multiple times in the back by police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin, just 40 miles south of Milwaukee. According to his lawyers, Blake is no paralyzed from the waist down.
Each game will be rescheduled according to the NBA.
The NBA and the NBPA today announced that in light of the Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to not take the floor today for Game 5 against the Orlando Magic, today’s three games – MIL-ORL, HOU-OKC and LAL-POR have been postponed. Game 5 of each series will be rescheduled.
— NBA (@NBA) August 26, 2020
Bucks Vice-President Alex Lasry also voiced his support for the players on Twitter.
Some things are bigger than basketball. The stand taken today by the players and org shows that we’re fed up. Enough is enough. Change needs to happen. I’m incredibly proud of our guys and we stand 100% behind our players ready to assist and bring about real change
— Alex Lasry (@AlexanderLasry) August 26, 2020
The Orlando Magic released the following statement, standing solidarity with their opponents as well.
STATEMENT FROM THE ORLANDO MAGIC AND THE DeVOS FAMILY pic.twitter.com/jRZJmo1mq4
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) August 26, 2020
Stay tuned… we’ll see what happens going forward.
NBA players have called for a meeting tonight in Orlando to determine next steps, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 26, 2020
*UPDATE:
The Lakers and Clippers have voted to cancel the remainder of their seasons in protest.
All other NBA teams have voted to continue the playoffs.
Lakers and Clippers have voted not to continue the NBA season, per @ShamsCharania
Every other team voted to continue pic.twitter.com/NLiVJwWf5Y
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 27, 2020
