Heat vs. Hawks Game 3 delayed; police investigate package left outside State Farm Arena

The tipoff of Game 3 in the first-round NBA playoff series between the Hawks and Heat was delayed after a suspicious package was found outside Atlanta’s State Farm Arena.

The game was scheduled to tip shortly after 7 p.m. ET Friday, but Zach Klein, sports director at WSB-TV, Atlanta’s ABC affiliate, reported about 10 minutes before then that the game could be delayed after arena security discovered the package.

Per NBA league sources… Hawks Game 3 vs Heat might not start on time… there was a suspicious package discovered outside by Arena security… They have called in APD bomb sniffing dogs to check out.

— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) April 22, 2022

Sarah K. Spencer of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution later reported that tipoff would be delayed by 30 minutes while arena security and Atlanta police investigated the package.

Tonight’s Game 3 tip-off between the Hawks and Heat will be delayed 30 minutes as security/police investigate a suspicious package that was found outside State Farm Arena, I’m told.

— Sarah K. Spencer (@sarah_k_spence) April 22, 2022

Fans in the arena were evacuated as the investigation took place.

ESPN began its coverage of the game at 7 p.m. Then network reported that the game’s new start time would be 7:45 p.m. ET if the police investigation yielded no threats. 

The Hawks announced the new start time on Twitter, but the NBA tweeted later that the game would start at 7:55 p.m. ET.

Tonight’s game has been delayed. Tipoff will be at 7:45 p.m. ET.

Thank you for your patience.

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) April 22, 2022

The Miami Heat at Atlanta Hawks game will now tip off at 7:55 p.m. ET.

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 22, 2022

Fans were readmitted to the arena after the investigation was completed.