Sports

NBA & NBAPA announce all games postponed Wednesday following Bucks boycott

By David Souza, Boston 25 News

Miami Heat v Denver Nuggets LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 01: An overview of the basketball court shows the NBA logo and Black Lives Matter before the start of a game between the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 01, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

By David Souza, Boston 25 News

ORLANDO, Fla. — The National Basketball Association and its Players’ Association announced on late afternoon Wednesday that no playoff games will be played for the remainder of the day following the Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to boycott Game 5 of their first-round matchup with the Orlando Magic.

PREVIOUS: Bucks players don’t take the court for NBA playoff game

That means that, in addition to the Bucks-Magic game being postponed, so too will the Houston Rockets’ and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Game 5 and the Los Angeles Lakers’ and the Portland Trailblazers’ Game 5, which were both set to tip-off tonight.

The association did announce that all three Game 5s will be rescheduled.

The Bucks’ decision to boycott their potentially series-clinching contest with Orlando comes as discussions continue amongst players about how they will respond following the shooting of Jacob Blake. Blake is a Black man who was shot in the back multiple times by police in Kenosha, Wisc. on Sunday, August 23 after, family members say, he broke up a fight that led to the apparent domestic incidence response by law enforcement.

Alex Lasry, the senior vice president for the Bucks, posted to Twitter about his team’s decision not to play, calling it “bigger than basketball.”

Related: Jacob Blake paralyzed from the waist down after being shot by police in Wisconsin, father says

The Boston Celtics are set to begin the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Toronto Raptors Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. There has been no word yet on any potential change to that game’s status.

The Celtics did post to their social media page shortly before the news of Wednesday’s postponements was released. That post was a graphic with information for how people can contact law enforcement officials in Wisconsin, including the Kenosha DA and the state’s Department of Justice.

“We’re the ones getting killed,” current Los Angeles Clippers coach and former Celtics coach Doc Rivers said following the Clippers game Tuesday night. “We’re the ones getting shot. We’re the ones that, we’re denied to live in certain communities. We’ve been hung. We’ve been shot. And all you do is keep hearing about fear. It’s amazing why we keep loving this country and this country does not love us back. And it’s just, it’s really so sad.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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