Chinese state broadcaster CCTV opted not to air NBA opening-night games, while Internet partner Tencent only streamed the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Dave McMenamin.
CCTV has historically shown the NBA's opening games, but it suspended broadcasts in the wake of the controversy spawned by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey's retweet last month that supported pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver conceded last week that the financial consequences that the league has suffered due to political blowback in China "have been and may continue to be fairly dramatic."
A group of protesters appeared outside of the Staples Center on Tuesday, with some fans wearing pro-Hong Kong T-shirts inside the arena. Demonstrators also handed out similar shirts outside Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
