ATLANTA — A suspicious package found outside of State Farm Arena on Friday night caused the NBA to delay the tip-off of Game 3 of the Hawks’ first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat by about 55 minutes.
The package was found outside Gate 2 of the arena, across from CNN Center, according to the Hawks.
Gates 1, 2 and 3 were temporarily closed by the Atlanta Police Department. Police, K-9 units and arena security cleared the area while the contents of the package were investigated. The contents of the package were found not to be explosive, and the package was safely removed by the Atlanta Bomb Squad, according to the Hawks.
The game, originally scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET, tipped off at 7:55 p.m.
The Heat, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, lead the 8th-seeded Hawks 2-0 in their best-of-seven series.