MINNEAPOLIS (AP) 鈥� The Minnesota Timberwolves returned to the court after the postponement of their game against the Golden State Warriors the day before, the focus clearly distracted by a community in crisis.
鈥淭heir group was suffering. The vibe in the stands, it was one of the most bizarre, sad games I鈥檝e ever been a part of,鈥� Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after the . 鈥淵ou could feel the somber atmosphere. Their team, you could tell they were struggling with everything that鈥檚 been going on and what the city has been through.鈥�
Before the game, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch鈥檚 voice cracked and faltered as the he expressed on behalf of the team a heartbreak for the community鈥檚 collective fear and pain from the ongoing immigration crackdown, following the of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by a federal officer.
Finch presents a straightforward, no-nonsense approach in his public statements and rarely reveals much emotion, but he was clearly moved by the situation in Minneapolis. The game between the Timberwolves and Warriors was , after Pretti was killed on Saturday.
鈥淚鈥檓 more than a resident. This is my home. I love living here. I love being a part of this community. I鈥檝e been embraced from day one. People have been amazing. It鈥檚 sad to watch what is happening,鈥� said Finch, who was hired by the Timberwolves five years ago. 鈥淥n the human level, certainly as somebody who takes great pride in being here, I know a lot of our players feel the same. They all love being here, and it鈥檚 just hard to watch what we鈥檙e going through.鈥�
Afterward, Finch called it a 鈥済host of a performance” after his team’s lowest final score in more than four years. he thought it was impossible for the fans and players to focus on the court.
鈥淭hey came to the game to try to forget about stuff, I guess, but I don鈥檛 think anything went away from the city and for their team,” Kerr said.
The Timberwolves held a for Pretti prior to the national anthem, just as they did for before their game on Jan. 8, the day after she was fatally shot by a federal officer. The Trump administration in December launched what the Department of Homeland Security declared the largest immigration enforcement operation and earlier this month announced a surge of more officers to push their force past 2,000.
The NBA announced Saturday that the rescheduling decision was made to 鈥減rioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community鈥� after Pretti was killed during a confrontation in a commercial district less than 2 miles south of Target Center. Finch said that the Timberwolves pushed for the postponement to respect the public grieving process.
鈥淧laying basketball just didn’t feel like the right thing to do,鈥� Finch said, thanking the NBA and the Warriors for their support.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr, long one of the league’s most outspoken coaches, was measured but clearly moved as he .
鈥淭his has always been a great stop on the NBA tour. I love the city of Minneapolis. People here are wonderful, and it鈥檚 very sad what鈥檚 happening. I feel for the city. There鈥檚 a pall that鈥檚 been cast over the city. You can feel it. A lot of people are suffering, and obviously a loss of life is the No. 1 concern. Those families will never get their family members back,鈥� Kerr said.
Tens of thousands of people swarmed downtown Minneapolis on Friday in protest of the tactics and presence of immigration officers, a crowd the Warriors could see from their hotel as it moved toward Target Center. A smaller protest march took place downtown before the game Sunday.
Plenty of other voices were raised around the sports world on Sunday.
Women’s basketball star Breanna Stewart held a sign with “abolish ICE” printed on it during introductions at her Unrivaled league game. Minnesota Frost fans during a chanted 鈥淚ce out now!鈥� The NBA Players Association issued a statement in support of the protests in Minnesota and urged its members to speak up. Former Timberwolves standout Karl-Anthony Towns posted his condolences for the families of Good and Pretti and said, 鈥淭his moment demands that we reflect honestly on what our values truly are.鈥�
The Timberwolves joined the region’s four other major league men’s sports teams in with the CEOs of more than 60 companies based in Minnesota, calling for 鈥渋mmediate deescalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions.”
Perspectives in a polarized country vary wildly on what constitutes constitutionally protected protesting and what becomes violent political disruption, and Kerr seemed to sense that tension as he spoke before the game on Sunday.
鈥淧eople are so angry. There should be an appeal to our better angels to look after one another and to recognize what鈥檚 happening. We鈥檙e being divided by media for profit, by misinformation. There鈥檚 so much out there that is really difficult for all of us to sort of reconcile,鈥� Kerr said. 鈥淎nd so in times like these you have to lean on values and who you are and who you want to be, either as an individual or a country.鈥�
After the game, Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards acknowledged the heaviness of the situation even though he’s not closely attuned to the details.
鈥淚 just love Minnesota, all the love and support that they show me. So I鈥檓 behind whatever they’re with,” Edwards said. “Me and my family are definitely praying for everybody.鈥�
Teammate Julius Randle echoed a similar sentiment.
鈥淚鈥檓 not political at all. I don鈥檛 get into any of that stuff, but it鈥檚 tough, regardless of whatever is going on. Somebody loses their life, you never want to see that,鈥� Randle said, adding: 鈥淏een nothing but a joy living here, so things like this happening in the community, it鈥檚 tough.鈥�
After the PWHL game, Frost assistant captain Kelly Pannek, a Plymouth, Minnesota, native, said she was proud of the protests.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 just really important for us to acknowledge what鈥檚 happening in our community, but also the amount of hope and strength the people of Minnesota are showing in standing up for what鈥檚 right among the unnecessary and just horrifying things that are happening,鈥� she said.
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