The NBA has officially postponed Saturday’s game between the Golden State Warriors and the Minnesota Timberwolves, citing safety and security concerns in the wake of a fatal shooting involving federal immigration officers in Minneapolis.
Originally set to tip off at 2:30 p.m. local time and broadcast nationally on ABC, the matchup will now be played Sunday at the same time. The league’s decision comes amid heightened tensions in the city, where back-to-back fatal shootings have sparked widespread protests and public unrest.
According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, a 37-year-old man was killed in the latest incident, though authorities have yet to release further details about what led to the shooting. The event unfolded just over a mile from where another fatal shooting occurred earlier this month-on January 7-when 37-year-old Renee Good was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. That incident, too, has drawn intense scrutiny and daily protests across the Twin Cities.
Saturday’s shooting quickly gained national attention after video of the incident spread on social media. By morning, calls for the NBA and the Timberwolves to cancel the game were growing louder, with demonstrators urging the league to acknowledge the city’s charged atmosphere.
The Warriors had arrived in Minneapolis early Friday, getting ahead of a winter storm sweeping through the southern U.S. That meant the team was already in town as large-scale protests surged through downtown later that day. While the players themselves weren’t directly involved in the unrest, the league clearly took into account the broader environment when deciding to delay the game.
This weekend was supposed to mark the first time Golden State returned to Minneapolis since the Timberwolves eliminated them from the playoffs last season-a matchup that still carries weight for both squads. The two teams are slated to face off again Monday night in the second of a two-game set.
But for now, basketball takes a backseat. The NBA’s move reflects a recognition that some moments transcend the game. With emotions running high in Minneapolis, the league made the call to step back, prioritize community safety, and give the city a moment to breathe.