Bucks lead as NBA postpones games amid protests after Jacob Blake shooting

All three NBA playoff games on Wednesday were postponed amid protests following the shooting of Jacob Blake in the United States.

The decision was taken after the Milwaukee Bucks made the call to boycott Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic.

Milwaukee, the top seeds in the Eastern Conference, hold a 3-1 lead through four games but opted to sit out at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida midweek.

As players from around the league posted messages in support of Milwaukee on social media, the decision was made to postpone the day’s games.

LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers were due to meet the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 5 of the Western Conference first-round matchup, while the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder were also scheduled to clash in the west.

“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,” a league statement read.

“Game 5 of each series will be rescheduled.”

The possibility of boycotts has been discussed in the NBA this week after Blake, a black man, was shot repeatedly in the back by police in Wisconsin.

His father said Blake has been left paralysed from the waist down.

Fred VanVleet revealed defending champions the Toronto Raptors had held a meeting to consider their options ahead of playing the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference second round, with Game 1 tipping off on Thursday.

But Wisconsin-based Milwaukee made the first move, opting against leaving their locker room in the latest protest against police brutality and racial inequality.

The Bucks had released a statement in support of Blake on Monday.

Demonstrations in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign have been present since the NBA’s restart in Orlando following George Floyd’s death in police custody in May.