After the postponement of NBA playoff games on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in response to Jacob Blake’s police shooting, the league plans to resume games on Saturday, according to a joint statement released by the league and the NBPA. Three games will be played on Saturday, followed by three more on Sunday.
NBA program
Saturday, August 29th
- Game 5 – Orlando Magic vs Milwaukee Bucks, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN)
- Game 5 – Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets, 6:30 PM ET (TNT)
- Game 5 – Portland Trail Blazers v Los Angeles Lakers, 9 pm ET (TNT)
Sunday, August 30th
- Game 1 – Boston Celtics vs Toronto Raptors, 1pm ET (ESPN)
- Game 6 – Los Angeles Clippers v Dallas Mavericks, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN)
- Game 6 – Denver Nuggets vs Utah Jazz, 20:30 ET (TNT)
A player’s meeting on Thursday morning took place after three playoff games were postponed on Wednesday, including the Bucks-Magic game in which Milwaukee players organized a walk-out before the start of game 5. The Board of Governors too. of the league received a call Thursday morning. to address the strikes on Wednesday night as well as what has to happen next.
Several leaders of the Lakers’ roster, along with some players from other teams, were reportedly on their feet until the early hours of the morning to sort out their problems within the bubble. Following these talks, all players were able to agree to resume the season, for Wojnarowski.
During a Wednesday night match that consisted of players and coaches, the Lakers and Clippers were among the minority of teams that pushed to finish the season, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. LeBron James said during the meeting that he wants the team owners to be more involved and take action.
Milwaukee’s exit before Game 5 against the Magic came in response to the shooting of Blake, an unarmed black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday. Shortly after the Bucks made a non-playing statement, the Rockets and Thunder decided not to play on Wednesday, as did the Lakers and Trail Blazers.
Bucks owners Marc Lasry, Wes Edens and Jamie Dinan released the following joint statement:
“We fully support our players and the decision they made. Even if we didn’t know it in advance, we would have totally agreed with them. The only way to bring about change is to shed light on the racial injustices that are happening in front of us. . Our players have done it and we will continue to stand by their side and ask for responsibility and change. “
Many NBA players and coaches have spoken with heavy hearts since Blake’s shooting, and early Wednesday the Toronto Raptors discussed the possibility of missing Game 1 of their second-round bout against the Boston Celtics on Thursday.
Coaches like Doc Rivers have made emotional statements in response to Blake’s shooting, stating sharply, “we continue to love this country and this country does not reciprocate us”. Raptors guard Fred VanVleet told the media Tuesday that to bring about the change, players should “put something to lose, rather than just money or exposure.” Sitting outside the games, this certainly makes the claim that gamers are fed up and tired of not changing anything about police brutality against blacks in this country.
Follow along below as we keep you updated on what’s happening with the current situation.
