The storming of the US Capitol by a mob of Donald Trump supporters ahead of Congress certifying Joe Biden's victory did not go without comment in the NBA.
Players from the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, who faced each other last night, issued a joint statement before their game.
Boston won the encounter 107-105 in Miami, and it was revealed afterwards by Celtics coach Brad Stevens that the match almost didn't go ahead.
Some players took a knee during the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner before play began.
The statement read:
"2021 is a new year, but some things have not changed.
"We play tonight's game with a heavy heart after yesterday's decision in Kenosha, and knowing that protesters in our nation's capital are treated differently by political leaders depending on what side of certain issues they are on.
"The drastic difference between the way protesters this past spring and summer were treated and the encouragement given to today's protesters who acted illegally just shows how much more work we have to do.
"We have decided to play tonight's game to try to bring joy into people's lives. But we must not forget the injustices in our society, and we will continue to use our voices and our platform to highlight these issues and do everything we can to work for a more equal and just America."
The statement finished with the hashtag #BlackLivesStillMatter
NBA players have been vocal on the issues which have torn at the fabric of the United States.
Congress finally certified the results of the November election to confirm that Joe Biden will be inaugurated as the next President on January 20th. This followed violence in the Capitol which saw one person shot dead and three others die of 'medical emergencies'.
What is widely seen as an attack on democracy, stoked by Donald Trump, has drawn fresh outrage in America, and sport is not immune to making its position known.
The decision in Kenosha referred to prosectors not charging the police officer who shot Jacob Blake in Wisconsin back in August.
Blake, who is black, was shot by Rusten Sheskey, who is white.
NBA star LeBron James has called that decision a 'blow to the heart and the gut'.
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