Heat-Hawks game delayed after ‘suspicious package’ found outside arena

ATLANTA — The NBA playoff sport between the Miami Warmth and Atlanta Hawks was delayed Friday evening after a suspicious package deal was discovered outdoors State Farm Area.

The tipoff was pushed again practically an hour whereas police investigated the package deal. Three gates have been closed whereas safety personnel made positive there was no hazard.

The package deal was discovered close to the stairwell that gives entry to a MARTA subway station on the area.

The sport — which the Hawks gained, 111-110, to chop the Warmth’s result in 2-1 of their best-of-seven collection — lastly started shortly earlier than 8 p.m., however many followers within the sellout crowd have been nonetheless in lengthy strains outdoors the world, plodding by safety checkpoints which can be in place for all video games.

Followers at State Farm Area are ushered right into a gate after three different gates have been closed as a result of a suspicious package deal.

AP

“Out of an abundance of warning, Gates 1, 2 and three have been quickly closed by the Atlanta Police Division whereas the police division, Okay-9 items and area safety labored to clear the world and examine the contents,” the world mentioned in a press release. “The contents of the package deal have been discovered to not be explosive, and the package deal was eliminated safely by the Atlanta Bomb Squad.”

The Warmth have been main the best-of-seven collection after profitable the primary two video games in Miami. Video games 3 and 4 are in Atlanta.