The National Basketball Association scrambled late Sunday to contain an escalating crisis in China after a Houston Rockets executive’s tweets supporting pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong sparked an international furor.

The league’s carefully plotted strategic emphasis on China was jolted off course on Friday night when Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted an image with the words “Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong,” in reference to the mass rallies against China’s authoritarian government on the streets of the semiautonomous city. The Rockets are scheduled to play an exhibition outside Tokyo on Tuesday.

Mr. Morey quickly deleted the tweet, but the damage was done. Chinese sponsors pulled their money from the franchise, Chinese broadcast partners said they wouldn’t air Rockets games and the Chinese Basketball Association suspended its ties with one of the NBA’s best teams.

Mr. Morey tweeted again on Sunday night to explain that his views don’t represent the team’s or the league’s. The NBA soon addressed the fallout for the first time, but the league quickly found itself under attack by American politicians on the left and right for its statement, which attempted to reaffirm the league’s commitment to free speech but said it was “regrettable” that Mr. Morey’s tweet had offended Chinese fans and partners.

“The values of the league support individuals’ educating themselves and sharing their views on matters important to them,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said. “We have great respect for the history and culture of China and hope that sports and the NBA can be used as a unifying force to bridge cultural divides and bring people together.”