Miami Heat and Boston Celtics pay tribute to victims as the sporting world reacts to Texas shooting

Boston now takes a 3-2 series lead and is just one win away from a first NBA Finals appearance in 12 years.

“Obviously, everybody says their prayers and condolences to the families of those kids,” Tatum told reporters, “but at some point that does get tiring of going through the same process and the same result keeps happening over and over again.

“I’m a basketball player, I don’t have a lot of answers,” he added, “but something does have to change in that regard because obviously things like this unfortunately continue to happen.”

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, meanwhile, began his pregame press conference by saying that he was “devastated by the news.”

“It just continues to happen,” he said. “I know everybody is saying that there needs to be a call to action, and I think what this is forcing people to do is just to figure it out, including myself.

“We don’t have the answers, but we want to be heard to be able to force change to the people that can actually make the change.”

‘Sad beyond measure’

Other sports leagues around the US also voiced their shock and sadness and offered condolences toward the families of the victims.

“To have parents afraid to send their kids to schools, kids being afraid to go to school for their health and well-being, it’s just sad beyond measure,” LA Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said in Washington, DC, before his team’s game against the Nationals.

“It’s ironic I’m sitting here in the nation’s capital, where it’s been run up the flagpole,” he continued.

“But it seems to come to a hard stop at the Senate. How there can’t be a bipartisan consensus on an issue like this is very disheartening, very irresponsible by our leaders. Something needs to be done and be proactive about it … When is enough, enough?”

Another House-passed bill H.R.1446 would close a loophole which allows some licensed gun sales to occur before a required background check is completed.