Union attorney Jeffrey Kessler said Blazers' owner Paul Allen, a newcomer to the talks, came to the mediation session on Thursday to represent the hard-line stance of the board of governors.

“Something happened in that board of governors meeting,” Kessler said. “Yesterday we thought we were moving toward a deal. Suddenly, today, they spend very little time negotiating. As soon as we got in there and presented our offer and without caucusing, they said, ‘We don’t have to do anything else. We can tell you right now we’re at 50 percent, and it has to be our way.’

“We adjourned, we came back with the players. They said, ‘We will not agree to anything else unless you agree to 50 percent. I couldn’t believe it.

“We were told Paul Allen was there to express the views of the board of governors, and that view was ‘our way or the highway.’

“They were carrying out a mandate they were given. This is a sad day for fans, because someone in that board of governors was sent to blow us off, blow the fans off.”

Billy Hunter cited the Lakers, Knicks, Heat and Mavericks as owners who are willing to reach an agreement with the players.

Adam Silver and San Antonio Spurs owner Peter Holt, who heads the league’s labor relations committee, tried to characterize the players as having walked away from the talks because the owners weren’t willing to budget from the 50-50 proposal. Said Fisher: “You guys were lied to.”