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Carlson: NBA players kneeling on day John Lewis was laid to rest a powerful reminder of fight for racial justice

I missed the first hour or so of the NBA restart on Thursday.

Sometimes mom duty gets in the way of TV watching.

I didn’t tune into the night’s lead-off game, Jazz-Pelicans, until about midway through the second quarter. But I was definitely watching as Donovan Mitchell sparked Utah late and Brandon Ingram missed a game-winning three for New Orleans at the buzzer and the NBA was back in all its glory.

I kept watching as the Lakers and Clippers prepared for their night-cap showdown.

And yes, I saw them kneel.

Before the national anthem, players and coaches lined the sideline and linked arms and stayed there as the song played.