Players to Meet, NBA Season in Jeopardy; Blazers-Lakers Boycott Game 5, NBA Postpones playoff games
(UPDATE #3: 8/26 4:35 p.m.) The Milwaukee Bucks players put together a group statement, which was read aloud just moments ago…
Sterling Brown and George Hill make a statement for the @Bucks without taking questions. pic.twitter.com/iuxOhu6Ge0
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) August 26, 2020
(UPDATE #2: 8/26 3:00 p.m.) With the players set to meet tonight, the NBA season is in jeopardy.
Players will meet at 8 pm tonight to discuss how to proceed, sources told @SInow. Said one veteran player, “The season is in jeopardy.”
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) August 26, 2020
(UPDATE #1: 8/26 2:45 p.m.) All three NBA Playoff games have been postponed, and the next steps are still up in the air.
NBA players have called for a meeting tonight in Orlando to determine next steps, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 26, 2020
Obviously, there are several steps that could be taken. We will now wait and see what the next moves will be.
(ORIGINAL: 8/26 2:06 p.m.) The Trail Blazers and Lakers are boycotting the playing of Game Five of their first-round playoff series.
The Lakers and Trail Blazers are sitting Game 5 of series, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
All three NBA games will not be played as players sit in wake of Jacob Blake shooting.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 26, 2020
The NBA subsequently postponed all of its playoff games for Wednesday.
All games are postponed and will be rescheduled. https://t.co/LskpN82x35
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) August 26, 2020
The Milwaukee Bucks were the first team to decided to boycott, refusing to come out from the locker room to play Game Five against the Orlando Magic. The Magic had been warming up on the floor before exiting the court with a few minutes left before tip off and no sign of the opposition.
Shortly after the Bucks boycott, the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder both decided to boycott the playing of Game Five of their series, which is tied 2-2, and was scheduled to tip at 3:30 Pacific time.
The Blazers trail the Lakers 3 games to 1 and are facing elimination. Damian Lillard has been ruled out for Game Five with a right knee sprain.
