National Basketball Association owners and players have continued their last-ditch talks in New York as commissioner David Stern's deadline passed.
Stern had set the deadline of 11am on Thursday for players to accept his latest offer -- or get a worse deal -- but there was no halt to the negotiations after more than four hours of discussion at a Manhattan hotel.
If the stalemate is not broken, more games of this already delayed season could be cancelled but hope has not been lost for a deal to be struck to end a lockout that began on July 1.
The league has offered between 49 and 51 percent of basketball-related income, although Players Association officials claim they have no chance of receiving more than 50.2 percent. The players have offered to come down to 52.5 percent.