The NBA issued an apology to a CNN reporter who was silenced after she asked Houston Rockets players a question about the ongoing feud between China and the NBA.

Christina Macfarlane asked athletes James Harden and Russell Westbrook if they “would feel differently about speaking out” after “fallout” from the Rockets general manager tweeting support for Hong Kong freedom protests. Before she could finish asking her question, a team media relations employee tried cutting her off and taking the microphone from her.