NBA players have agreed not to boycott the remainder of the post-season, after forcing the postponement of playoff games in a protest against racial injustice and police brutality.
The police shooting of black man Jacob Blake in the Wisconsin town of Kenosha has triggered days of violent unrest and riled US professional sports.
The NBA postponed all three playoff games scheduled for Thursday (NZ time), after Milwaukee Bucks refused to take the court for game five of their series against Orlando Magic.
The Bucks players said they were unable to focus on basketball, due to the events in Kenosha, located about 60 km south of Milwaukee.
ESPN and the Washington Post have reported that NBA players have decided to resume the playoffs, after meeting in the bubble-like campus at Disney World in Florida, where the games are being played, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The league has also postponed the three playoff games scheduled for Friday, with the hope the season can resume over the weekend.
Since the NBA restarted its pandemic-interrupted season, courts have been branded with the words 'Black Lives Matter' and players have worn jerseys with social justice slogans.
NBA referees marched around the Disney campus in support of the players, wearing black T-shirts with messages like 'Everybody vs. Racism' and 'Black Lives Matter'.
Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer and the Women's NBA also postponed games on Thursday, while two-time tennis Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka pulled out of a tournament semifinal in support of the protests.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James called for action against racial injustice.
"Change doesn't happen with just talk!!" he tweets. "It happens with action and needs to happen NOW!
"For my @IPROMISESchool kids, kids and communities across the country, it's on US to make a difference. Together.
"That's why your vote is @morethanavote #BlackLivesMatter."
