NBA Playoffs On Hold After Milwaukee Bucks Boycott Game 5 In Protest Of Jacob Blake Shooting

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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.

Bucks Vice-President Alex Lasry also voiced his support for the players on Twitter.

The Orlando Magic released the following statement, standing solidarity with their opponents as well.

Stay tuned… we’ll see what happens going forward.

*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.

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