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MIAMI -- A woman performing the national anthem before an NBA preseason game between the 76ers and Heat on Friday night did so while kneeling at midcourt, and she opened her jacket to show a shirt bearing the phrase Black Lives Matter.The singer was identified by the Miami Heat as Denasia Lawrence, who called the Black Lives Matter movement a rallying cry while explaining her decision to kneel in a Facebook post early Saturday.Were being unjustly killed and overly criminalized, Lawrence wrote. I took the opportunity to sing and kneel to show that we belong in this country and that we have the right to respectfully protest injustices against us.Heat players and coaches stood side by side for the anthem, with their arms linked, as has been their custom during the preseason. Many had their heads down as Lawrence sang, and the team released a statement saying it had no advance knowledge that she planned to kneel.We felt as a basketball team that we would do something united, so that was our focus, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Throughout all of this, I think the most important thing that has come out is the very poignant, thoughtful dialogue. Weve had great dialogue within our walls here, and hopefully this will lead to action.The anthem issue has been a major topic in the sports world in recent months, starting with the decision by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick to not stand for its playing. Kaepernick cited racial injustice and police brutality among the reasons for his protest, and athletes from many sports -- and many levels, from youth all the way to professional -- have followed his lead in various ways.All I can say is what weve seen in multiple preseason games so far is our players standing for the national anthem, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in New York earlier Friday, at a news conference after the leagues board of governors meetings. It would be my hope that they would continue to stand for the national anthem. I think that is the appropriate thing to do.The NBA has a rule calling for players and coaches to stand during the anthem.Heat guard Wayne Ellington often speaks about the need to curb gun violence, after his father was shot and killed two years ago. He had his eyes closed for most of the anthem Friday, as per his own custom, though he was aware of Lawrences actions.At the end of the day, to each his own, Ellington said. If she feels like thats the way she wants to stand for it, then more power to her.Making a statement in the manner that Lawrence did Friday is rare, but not unheard of in recent weeks.When the Sacramento Kings played their first home preseason game earlier this month, anthem singer Leah Tysse dropped to one knee as she finished singing the song.Tysse is white. Lawrence is black.I love and honor my country as deeply as anyone yet it is my responsibility as an American to speak up against injustice as it affects my fellow Americans, Tysse wrote on Facebook. I have sung the anthem before but this time taking a knee felt like the most patriotic thing I could do. I cannot idly stand by as black people are unlawfully profiled, harassed and killed by our law enforcement over and over and without a drop of accountability. ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Devan Dubnyk was on edge as the final 35 seconds ticked off.That seems odd for someone who has been as cool as can be for three straight games.Dubnyk stopped 29 shots for his third straight shutout and 22nd of his career as the Minnesota Wild beat the Dallas Stars 4-0 on Saturday night.Usually when it gets to a 4-0 game youre happy with the win and if the shutout happens, great. But you dont really get nervous, he said. That was probably the first time I started to get a little nervous toward the end of a 4-0 game. But its fun.Mikael Granlund, Nino Niederreiter, Eric Staal and Tyler Graovac scored for Minnesota, which improved to 6-2-1.Dubnyk didnt have to make any spectacular saves in establishing a new personal best scoreless stretch of 180 minutes. Hes stopped 94 straight shots. The last goal he allowed was in overtime last Saturday.I dont know if he can do it for 73 more games, but right now hes doing very well, said Wild coach Bruce Boudreau.Dallas, which has just four goals in its last four games, hit the post twice.We know what we do well when were playing well, said Jason Spezza, who returned after missing two games. But this year weve had not the results we want, so we have to get back to finding our game and be a little more consistent with it.A key to the Wilds early-season success has been offensive contributions from all players. Eighteen players have accounted for Minnesotas 32 goals and a league-best 18 now have points.Granlund added his name to that goal list to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead in the first with the Wilds first short-handed goal of the season.Off a turnover by Jason Spezza, Mikko Koivu deked John Klingberg with a toe drag in the Dallas zone before centering to Granlund, who tucked the puck behind Kari Lehtonen. Granlund was the only Wild player to appear in all the teams previous eight games without scoring.Lehtonen fiinished with 11 saves.ddddddddddddWe got to be better on the power play and not give up that short-handed goal, and try to at least get momentum if were not going to score, said captain Jamie Benn.Dallas had a 13-1 advantage in second-period shots.Dubnyk wasnt worried.I know that at some point were going to play, and were going to play the way we need to and thats exactly what happened, he said. We go out there and again for the third straight game we have a great third period when we have a lead and we get some big goals.Niederreiter gave the Wild a 2-0 lead early in the third with a wrist shot from the left circle, before Staal and Graovac scored less than three minutes apart. Graovacs goal was the first of his career.I know I had a lot of family watching that game, said Graovac, called up from Iowa of the AHL earlier in the day. Its not just me scoring that goal. Its my aunts, uncles, grandmother, my parents back home. Its just something very special for all of us that we can all enjoy.Graovac was sent back down to Iowa after the game.Minnesota played its first of what could be many games without left wing Zach Parise and defenseman Marco Scandella. The team announced before the game that both are listed as week-to-week with lower-body injuries sustained Thursday in Buffalo.Game notes Dallas RW Jiri Hudler returned after missing five contests with an illness. . RW Christoph Bertschy was also recalled from Iowa and sent back down after the game. The Wild sent down LW Teemu Pulkkinen. ... Dallas reassigned forward Justin Dowling to AHL Texas. ... Wild D Jared Spurgeon returned after missing four games with a lower-body injury.UP NEXTStars: At Columbus on Tuesday night to conclude a three-game trip.Wild: Host Buffalo on Tuesday night. ' ' '