The National Basketball Association has postponed Saturday evening's fixture between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors following a fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis earlier in the day.
League officials cited community safety concerns when announcing the decision, which came approximately three hours before the scheduled tip-off at Target Center.
The match has been rearranged for Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
"The decision was made to prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community," the NBA stated.
The NBA have announced that the match between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors was suspended
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The victim has been identified by his parents as Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident who worked as an intensive care unit nurse.
The shooting occurred near Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street in south Minneapolis at approximately 9:15 a.m., less than two miles from the downtown arena.
Minneapolis police confirmed Pretti was an American citizen with no prior criminal history beyond traffic violations.
The Department of Homeland Security stated that Pretti was carrying a firearm and two magazines at the time of the incident.
However, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara indicated that officers believe he was a legitimate firearms holder.
Protests broke out in Minneapolis after a 37-year-old man was shot by a federal agent
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"We believe he is a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry," O'Hara said.
Border Patrol agents were responsible for the shooting, not Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers as initially reported.
This marks the second fatal shooting of a Minneapolis resident by federal officers this month.
On 9 January, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good, an unarmed woman who was attempting to drive away from agents.
That incident triggered widespread demonstrations across the United States and prompted a general strike in Minneapolis commencing on 23 January.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr offered a scathing assessment of 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.
Trouble has been brewing in Minnesota this month after the shooting of Renee Good
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The Timberwolves held a moment of silence for Good prior to a recent home fixture.
The Department of Homeland Security reported that roughly 200 demonstrators gathered at the scene following the shooting, alleging they obstructed and assaulted officers, which necessitated crowd-control measures.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz responded by urging federal agents to depart his state.
The postponement creates an unusual scheduling situation for both clubs.
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch's side will now play tomorrow instead
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The Warriors, who arrived in Minnesota on Friday, will now face the Timberwolves on consecutive evenings, with matches set for Sunday and Monday at Target Center.
Reports state that Timberwolves officials recommended the postponement to allow time for processing events and implementing additional security arrangements ahead of potential further demonstrations.