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NBA player boycott leads to postponed games across leagues: Live updates

The Milwaukee Bucks started the movement, which quickly spread around the league and social media.
The Milwaukee Bucks bench remains empty after the scheduled start of an NBA first-round playoff game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.
The Milwaukee Bucks bench remains empty after the scheduled start of an NBA first-round playoff game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. [ ASHLEY LANDIS | AP ]
By
Published Aug. 26, 2020|Updated Aug. 27, 2020

NBA teams are using the playoffs to bring awareness to racial injustice, with the Milwaukee Bucks making the first move Wednesday by boycotting Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs against the Magic.

More teams followed, and no games will be played Wednesday, according to the league.

Lakers star LeBron James tweeted at 4:37 p.m., “F--- THIS MAN!!!!! WE DEMAND CHANGE. SICK OF IT.” The Lakers were scheduled to play the Blazers at 9 p.m. on Wednesday.

The boycott is in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by police in Kenosha, Wis.

Here are some of the Twitter reactions from the boycott:

The WNBA’s Washington Mystics and Atlanta Dream were scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m., but the league announced no games would be held on Wednesday as players took a knee on the court.

Here’s how some NBA players reacted to the boycott:

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And some NHL players weighed in, too:

As did some athletes in the NFL:

Related: NFL players concerned, ‘sick and tired’ of racial injustice

Stephen A. Smith, Maria Taylor and Kenny Smith spoke on the boycott, as well:

Some other NBA teams weighed in on Twitter, showing their support for the teams that chose not to play on Wednesday:

Ahead of the Magic-Bucks game, team personnel started cleaning up the Milwaukee’s side of the court.

And nearly 20 minutes after the teams were expected to tip-off, this is what the scene looked like at Disney’s Wide World of Sports campus.

Meanwhile, the NHL playoffs continue Wednesday night with the Lightning taking on the Bruins in the second half of a back-to-back. The Avalanche and Stars will also play Wednesday night.

The Flyers defeated the Islanders earlier Wednesday afternoon.

Related: NHL will hold moment of reflection before Lightning-Bruins game

Per Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, Bill Daly, the league’s deputy commissioner, said there are no plans to postpone Wednesday night’s games.

In the MLB, the Brewers and Reds mutually agreed to sit out Wednesday night’s game in Milwaukee, which was scheduled for 8:10 p.m., according to the Wall Street Journal’s Jared Diamond.

A trio of Mariners players met with a trio of Padres players — including former Rays player Tommy Pham — ahead of Wednesday night’s 9:10 p.m. game.

Major League Soccer also issued a statement of their own.

Inter Miami and Atlanta United also called off their MLS game, which was scheduled for 8 p.m. on Wednesday night.

Contact Mari Faiello at mfaiello@tampabay.com. Follow @faiello_mari.

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