NBA players have decided to resume the playoffs after a meeting on Thursday morning, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski has reported.
Thursday's three playoff games will be postponed but a resumption of the postseason could come as soon as Friday. There is expected to be a return to play by this weekend at the latest, according to ESPN.
There will be another meeting later today with two players from each team and each of the NBA owners. This meeting is to formulate action plans to address racial injustice issues and iron out details of restarting the playoffs, according to ESPN.
The NBA's players have decided to resume the playoffs, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 27, 2020
This all comes after the Milwaukee Bucks decided to not take the court on for Game 5 of their series on Wednesday in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, earlier this week.
Blake, 29, was shot and injured by police on Sunday as he leaned into his car and his children watched. He is currently recovering in hospital, but his lawyers say it will take "a miracle" for him to walk again.
The Bucks lead the Magic 3-1 in their first-round playoff and a win would have seen Milwaukee progress to meet Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
After the Magic had initially taken to the floor for their pre-game warm-ups on Wednesday night, they retreated to the dressing room when it became clear the Bucks were not going to show.
NBA Vice President Kiki Vandeweghe was among a delegation seen outside the Bucks' dressing room. The league postponed all three matches scheduled for Wednesday, saying they would be rescheduled.
After the Bucks boycott, the NBA made the decision to postpone Wednesday's other games.
The NBA and the NBPA today announced that in light of the Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to not take the floor today for Game 5 against the Orlando Magic, today’s three games – MIL-ORL, HOU-OKC and LAL-POR have been postponed. Game 5 of each series will be rescheduled.
— NBA (@NBA) August 26, 2020
Reports circulated early on Thursday morning suggesting that the LA Lakers and LA Clippers had voted to end the season.
However, The Athletic reported that Lebron James of the Lakers and Kawhi Leonard of the Clippers were outspoken in the initial meeting about not continuing the playoffs and it now appears that the games will resume.
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