BBC Sport
The NBA postponed Wednesday’s three play-off games after the Milwaukee Bucks called off their fixture in protest at the shooting of Jacob Blake — a Black man shot seven times in the back by police on Sunday in Kenosha, Wisconsin. In baseball, three MLB games were called off after teams decided not to play, and five MLS matches have been postponed.
After calling off their game against the Orlando Magic, the Bucks players released a statement saying: “Despite the overwhelming plea for change, there has been no action, so our focus today cannot be on basketball. We are calling for justice for Jacob Blake and demand the officers be held accountable.”
Tennis player Naomi Osaka also initially pulled out of a WTA semi-final match, tweeting that “as a black woman I feel as though there are much more important matters at hand that need immediate attention, rather than watching me play tennis.” She later agreed to play after the WTA and USTA paused play on Thursday and would resume on Friday, noting the decision brought “more attention to the movement.”