The Los Angeles Clippers, following the leak of an alleged recording of franchise owner Donald Sterling making racist remarks, staged a silent protest before their game on Sunday.

LA Clippers Protest

When the Clippers players came out from the locker room prior to their game against the Golden State Warriors, they quickly shed their shooting jerseys and left them in a pile in the middle of the court. Under their shooting jerseys, they had on red warm-up shirts that were worn inside out to hide the Clippers logo.

For the game, the Clippers wore their alternate jerseys that read “Los Angeles” and didn’t have the Clippers. They also wore matching black socks and armbands in a statement of solidarity. No players on the team have spoken to the press about Sterling’s alleged remarks; coach Doc Rivers has been tapped as the team’s sole spokesperson on the matter.

Rivers, who is black like the majority of the Clippers team that includes NBA standout Chris Paul, has said that his team is “outraged.” He’s also questioned the meaning of playing at “home” for them.

"We're going home now," Rivers said after the loss to the Warriors left them tied 2-2 in the playoff series. "Usually that would mean we're going to our safe haven. And I don't even know if that's true."

Donald Sterling's Racist Remarks

Over the weekend, a recording that reportedly features Sterling talking to former girlfriend V. Stiviano was obtained and published by TMZ. In the recording, Sterling appears to chastise Stiviano for posting pictures of herself with Magic Johnson on her Instagram account.

“It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people,” the voice, which allegedly belongs to Sterling, can be heard saying in the recording. “I’m just saying, in your … Instagrams, you don’t have to have yourself with, walking with black people.”

“Don’t put him on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me,” Sterling allegedly added. “And don’t bring him to my games.”

NBA commissioner Adam Silver is expected to make a decision on disciplinary action for Sterling prior to Game 5 on Tuesday.

– Chelsea Regan

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