Mainland Media Call A Time Out To Cool NBA Row

The mainland media and internet were notably lacking in fresh attacks on the NBA on Friday, in a possible sign that authorities were working to de-escalate a bitter political row.

The American basketball league suffered a ferocious backlash after Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey voiced support for Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests on Twitter.

But after adoring fans cheered on the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets in a Shanghai exhibition game on Thursday night, mainland censors and propaganda machine avoided further inflaming the issue.

In contrast to days leading up to the pre-season game – when state media editorials ripped into the NBA for interfering in Chinese affairs – the government-controlled press barely mentioned the issue on Friday.

For the first time in several days, none of the top-trending items on dominant social media platform Weibo were centred around attacks on the league.

Beijing allows citizens to vent online when it serves the communist party interests, with state press often leading the charge, but the party deeply fears social instability and abruptly puts the lid on hot topics that threaten to boil over.

Hu Xijin, top editor of the nationalist tabloid Global Times, said both sides now want to cool the feud down, according to the New York Times.

"I think this issue will gradually de-escalate – Global Times will not push to keep it hot," Hu said in response to the paper's request for comment. "I also hope the American side won't make any moves to escalate it."

The fracas posed a particular dilemma for authorities after outraged social media users began lashing out at Chinese fans as "traitors", threatening to split national opinion.

The NBA, which has a huge fanbase on the mainland, has been caught between the Chinese anger and US politicians, who accused the league of failing to more forcefully push back against Beijing in order to protect its business interests.

The league has clearly sought to avoid inflaming the issue, cancelling a series of scheduled publicity events in Shanghai without explanation.

Normally outspoken players like Lakers superstar LeBron James have brushed past reporters without comment while in China.

The Lakers and Nets travel to Shenzhen on Friday for their second of two promotional games, set for Saturday. (AFP)