NBA Playoffs Results: Lakers – Trail Blazers, Bucks – Magic, Rockets – Thunder, all three games postponed; check it out why

The NBA has announced that all three playoff games on Wednesday has been postponed and rescheduled.

The decision comes after the Milwaukee Bucks players did not take the court for Game 5 of their first-round series against the Orlando Magic, which was supposed to tip off at 4 p.m. ET. The protest comes in response to the shooting of an unarmed black man named Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday. Shortly after the Bucks made a statement by not playing, the Rockets and Thunder decided to also not play today, as well as the Lakers and Trail Blazers.

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Bucks owners Marc Lasry, Wes Edens and Jamie Dinan released the following joint statement:

“We fully support out players and the decision they made. Although we did not know beforehand, we would have wholeheartedly agreed with them. The only way to bring about change is to shine a light on the racial injustices that are happening in front of us. Our players have done that and we will continue to stand alongside them and demand accountability and change.”

News of the Bucks walking out has sent a ripple effect across sports in the United States. Here’s a look at all of the games postponed as a sign of protest:

NBA: Orlando Magic vs. Milwaukee Bucks (Game 5 — first round) 

NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets (Game 5 — first round)

NBA: Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Game 5 — first round)

WNBA: Washington Mystics vs. Atlanta Dream

WNBA: Los Angeles Sparks vs. Minnesota Lynx

WNBA: Connecticut Sun vs. Phoenix Mercury

MLB: Cincinnati Reds vs. Milwaukee Brewers

Many NBA players and coaches have spoken with heavy hearts since the shooting of Blake, and earlier Wednesday the Toronto Raptors discussed the possibility of sitting out Game 1 of their second-round matchup against the Boston Celtics.

Coaches like Doc Rivers have given emotional statements in response to the shooting of Blake, stating poignantly, “we keep loving this country and this country doesn’t love us back.” Raptors guard Fred VanVleet told media on Tuesday that in order to bring change, players would have to “put something up to lose, rather than just money or visibility.” By sitting out games, that certainly makes a statement that the players are sick and tired of nothing changing in regard to police brutality against Black people in this country.

The players have called for a meeting Wednesday night to determine the next steps, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

from InsideSport https://ift.tt/32qWaGo