Warriors-Timberwolves game postponed after federal agent kills man in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS — The Warriors’ game against the Timberwolves on Saturday in downtown Minneapolis was postponed after a federal immigration officer shot and killed a man in the city amid protests against an immigration crackdown.

The NBA announced that Saturday’s game was moved to Sunday, which will tip off at 2:30 p.m. PST.

“The decision was made to prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community,” the NBA said in a statement released Saturday afternoon.

When reached by the Bay Area News Group, the Warriors said the organization had no additional comment to add to what the league had already said. 

The Warriors are also scheduled to play a second game in Minneapolis on Monday.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said a 37-year-old man was killed but declined to identify him. He added that information about what led up to the shooting was limited. The man was identified by his parents as Alex Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse.

Thousands took to the Minneapolis streets on Friday to protest the continued heavy presence of federal agents in the city.

According to The Athletic, it was members of the Timberwolves who asked the league to postpone Saturday’s game. 

The team cited the need for more time to process the events of the previous 24 hours, as well as allowing for more time to prepare extra security and safety measures in case demonstrations break out in and around the arena. 

Around midday Saturday, the area around Target Center, where the game was scheduled to be played at 2:30 p.m. PST, was mostly empty aside from a few pedestrians who were enduring the sub-zero temperatures.

It was a stark contrast to 24 hours earlier, when the streets were packed with people protesting against Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s heavy presence in the community. 

Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by a federal officer in Minnesota on Jan. 7 during a protest, and on Saturday morning a border patrol officer shot and killed a man in Minneapolis.

“I just spoke with the White House after another horrific shooting by federal agents this morning. Minnesota has had it. This is sickening,” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said on X. “The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration, and he blasted the federal government after Good’s death. 

“It’s shameful, really, that in our country, we can have law enforcement officers who commit murder and seemingly get away with it,” Kerr said. “It’s shameful that the government can come out and lie about what happened when there’s video and witnesses who have all come out and disputed what the government is saying.”

Kerr is scheduled to speak to media at 1 p.m. PST on Sunday. 

Saturday was the latest NBA game to have been postponed because of civil unrest.

In 2020, the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted their playoff game against the Orlando Magic after police shot and killed Jacob Blake. That led to all NBA games being postponed that day. 

In 1992, during the riots caused by the killing of Rodney King, the Lakers played a home playoff game against the Blazers in Las Vegas rather than the Forum in Inglewood. 

Though no Warriors players or coaches have publicly commented on the situation Saturday in Minneapolis, others in the NBA community have. 

Longtime pundit Charles Barkley spoke on ESPN’s tipoff show and called for calm. 

“Somebody’s gotta step up and be adults,” Barkley said. “Two people have died for no reason, and it’s just sad.”

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.