MINNEAPOLIS — The NBA delayed Saturday night’s game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors at Target Centre after a fatal shooting early Saturday morning in south Minneapolis. The league said the postponement was intended to “prioritise the safety and security of the Minneapolis community.”
The decision came about three hours before tipoff, after authorities announced that a 37-year-old man, Alex Pretti, was shot and killed by a federal officer in a nearby commercial district. The incident occurred just under two miles from Target Centre, leading to protests and heightened tension across the city.
The following has been released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/zETGHzpYX5
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The Timberwolves and Warriors were scheduled for a nationally televised game on ABC Saturday evening, but the league agreed and decided to move the game to Sunday at 4:30 p.m. CT at Target Centre, with another meeting planned for Monday.
The shooting followed another recent fatal encounter earlier in the month, when Renee Good was also killed by a federal agent, prompting kneeling tributes and moments of silence from the team.
On Friday, thousands of protesters — including sports figures and community activists- marched through downtown Minneapolis and gathered inside Target Centre in opposition to the expanded presence of federal agents. Local businesses, from restaurants to breweries, participated in a day-long strike, and many schools closed as demonstrations unfolded.
Most of the Timberwolves’ coaching staff were already at the team’s practice facility, directly across the street from Target Centre, when news of the shooting began circulating Saturday morning.
