The NBA has officially called off the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Golden State Warriors game that was supposed to take place on Saturday at Target Center in Minneapolis because federal ICE agents shot and killed someone. The incident involved Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old local ICU nurse who was killed near the arena during President Trump’s second term, when immigration enforcement was stricter.
Around 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, Alex Pretti, a legal gun owner from Minneapolis, was shot near Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street, which is less than two miles from Target Center. Federal officials said he had a gun and magazines. This is the second ICE-related shooting in Minneapolis that has led to death in 17 days, and protests are still going on even though it’s freezing outside.
The league made the decision based on “the safety and security of the Minneapolis community.” The game will now be on NBA TV on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. CT (5:30 p.m. ET). The teams will also play again on Monday night. Events nearby, like the Minnesota Twins fan festival, ended early to make sure everyone could leave safely as tensions rose.
Protests grew stronger around the site of the shooting, which led the Minnesota National Guard to help local police. The decision shows that the NBA is putting public safety first as protests against federal immigration actions in the city grow.
