Playoffs are on hold as NBA players and teams go on strike to protest the recent shooting of police officer Jacob Blake, and ESPN reports that three games have been postponed today, but the playoffs will resume as early as Friday.

Yesterday, the Milwaukee Bucks decided not to play the NBA-bubble Orlando Magic. The players had discussed boycotting the game in the wake of Blake's shooting death, but the Bucks, who practice and play not far from Kenosha, Wisconsin, made the decision. The Magic followed them, as did the other four teams (Lakers, Trail Blazers, Thunder, and Rockets) that will play on Wednesday.

The NBA players were soon joined by players from the WNBA, MLB, and MLS, as well as tennis player Naomi Osaka. Sports commentators called it a boycott, but a strike would be more accurate.

Yesterday, coincidentally, was the fourth anniversary of the first time Colin Capernick took a knee in protest of the national anthem before an NFL preseason game.

All three of Thursday's games are also reportedly postponed; ESPN reported that players and league officials will meet later today to "develop an action plan to address the issue of racial injustice and finalize details of the playoff resumption."

First, some background: the NBA players were among the many protesters who marched with the "Black Lives Matter" movement, which surged in June after George Floyd's death; when the NBA resumed in the Disney World bubble, the players used their platform to bring attention to social justice, they said. Players and coaches alike often used media time to talk about the racism that persists in America.

Then on Sunday, Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old black man, was shot seven times from behind by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He survived but is paralyzed from the waist down. On Tuesday, two Kenosha protesters were shot and killed by a gunman. The suspect, a white teenager named Kyle Rittenhouse, was arrested yesterday.

Players and coaches again spoke out, demanding justice for Blake and the other victims; NBA great LeBron James tweeted:

and Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers issued an emotional, tearful statement:

On Tuesday and Wednesday, players openly talked about boycotting the game. Then the Bucks decided to stand up. They have experienced racism and police brutality: in 2018, Sterling Brown was wrongfully arrested and police used a Taser on him; in 2015, John Henson, then a Bucks player, was racially profiled in a jewelry store.

On Wednesday afternoon, Game 4 between the Magics and Bucks was scheduled to tip off at 4 p.m., but the Bucks refused to come out of their lockers and the Magic refused to forfeit the game.

ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted that the Bucks were in the locker room on a conference call with Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Cole and Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes.

Evening games for Thunder vs. Rockets and Lakers vs. Trail Blazers were also postponed.

The NBA announced that Wednesday's three playoff games had been postponed, but it was unclear when they would actually take place.

There was some doubt about the resumption of the playoffs; The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that the Lakers and Clippers resolved to boycott the rest of the season at a players meeting on Wednesday night. Star players LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard expressed their support for leaving.

The players met at 11 a.m. ET on Thursday to discuss their remaining playoff options and whether the season should end. The league's board of directors also met separately.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the August 27 game has been postponed and discussions are underway regarding when to continue.

The three games scheduled for today were Game 6 between the Jazz and Nuggets, Game 6 between the Mavericks and Clippers, and Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the Raptors and Celtics.

A source told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that he is expected to be back playing by the weekend.