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NBA players in Orlando have decided to resume the playoffs after participating in a strike on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Three games on Wednesday — Bucks-Magic, Thunder-Rockets, Blazers-Lakers — were postponed after Milwaukee players, followed by other teams, staged a protest in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Thursday’s slate of games is also postponed, according to Wojnarowski:
Today's three playoff games will be postponed, source tells ESPN. Discussion underway on when teams will resume play. https://t.co/A2PazNKDhy
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 27, 2020
Players want to expand their influence during the current social justice movement, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania:
Sources: NBA players in meeting today agreed to continue playing this postseason — but want to find new and improved ways to make social justice statements. Players expect games to resume this weekend.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 27, 2020
The league and its players are eyeing Friday or Saturday as the first return to the court:
Sources: NBA players -- and league -- are aiming to restart games Friday.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 27, 2020
There is still a discussion ongoing among players about the timing of a playoff resumption -- with an expectation that a Saturday return of games will be finalized later today, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 27, 2020
According to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes, some players had a change in position on cancelling the season:
Yahoo Sources: There was a change in position from last night with LeBron James, among others, relaying it was in their best interest to finish out the season.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) August 27, 2020