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The NBA has decided to postpone Saturday’s showdown between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors following a federal agent’s shooting of an armed man who was disrupting law enforcement actions in Minneapolis. This decision underscores the league’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the Minneapolis community.
“The National Basketball Association game scheduled for today between the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center has been postponed,” the NBA announced in a statement on Saturday. “The decision was made to prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community.”
This move by the NBA contrasts with the approach taken by the NHL, which allowed the Minnesota Wild to proceed with their scheduled game against the Florida Panthers despite the same incident. At the time of this report, the hockey game is in its third period, and no security issues have been reported.
Interestingly, the NBA’s response differs from its previous handling of such events. Earlier this month, the league chose not to cancel games even after a federal agent fatally shot anti-ICE protester Renee Good, who allegedly attacked the agent with her vehicle. The NBA did, however, hold a moment of silence in memory of Good.
As of this writing, the game is in the third period, with no reported security incidents.
The NBA’s decision to postpone the game stands in contrast to how they handled the previous shooting involving federal agents in Minneapolis. After an anti-ICE protester, Renee Good, was shot and killed earlier this month as she struck an agent with her vehicle. The NBA held a moment of silence for Good, but did not cancel the game.
It’s unclear why the league believes holding the game now would pose a public safety threat, but it did not feel that way earlier this month.
The armed man shot by ICE has been identified as Alex Jeffrey Pretti.