A massive “ICE Out” rally in downtown Minneapolis ended Friday afternoon at Target Center, one so large that more than half of those who marched couldn’t get past the stadium doors. Then there were more protests on Saturday Alex Pretti, 37, shot to death by federal officerswhich in turn sparked larger protests and outpourings of grief and anger in the city and across the country. The NBA wisely postponed that night’s Timberwolves game at Target Center.
That game took place on Sunday, but Warriors head coach Steve Kerr described it as “one of the weirdest, saddest games I’ve ever been a part of.” The Timberwolves’ heart was clearly not on this, as they only scored 85 points (the first time this season below 100 points), and the Warriors won easily.
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On Monday, life and the NBA moved on. The Warriors and Timberwolves play again Monday night, and folks at Target Center say things are still “quiet” and the atmosphere is a little somber and “weird.”
However, maybe by the end of the game things were looking and feeling a little better. The Timberwolves looked distracted early on, but a spark from Bones Hyland off the bench seemed to turn the tide. Minnesota then held off a short-handed Golden State team, trailing Hyland at 17 and Julius Randle at 18. That ended the Timberwolves’ five-game losing streak — and now, Minnesota will take all the wins it can get. On and off the field.
“It’s a lot, a lot…” Rudy Gobert said after the win In an interview with Peacock. “We’re here to do what we love, bring joy to people and distract them from the bad things that are happening. That’s all we can do. Stay safe, send love to those affected, and keep doing what we do. Try to lead by example. In this day and age, people need some joy.”
This is still a city and a state rocked by the killing of Pretty over the weekend and Renee Goode a few weeks ago. The streets of Minneapolis were still filled with protests, and that atmosphere was still in the air at Target Center — with chants of “f*** Ice” occurring throughout the game, including at the end of a moment of silence for Pretty. Even the Timberwolves’ trampoline dunk team wore “ICE Out” shirts on Sunday.
During a break in the game on Monday, cameras panned the crowd and showed fans on the big screen, Several fans held up signs that read “ICE Out Now!” The crowd burst into loud cheers.
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It’s not just inside Target Center that players are making their voices heard. One of them is former Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns.
There were other players around the league who commented or expressed their opinions.
“There’s a lot of changes that need to happen, and you feel it when you’re here…” Stephen Curry said after the Warriors’ win on Sunday. “It’s great to see the turnout, the peaceful protests, the unified voice out there. You feel like it’s going to turn the tide in a more positive direction…and then you wake up and see what’s happening.”
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“I knew all day yesterday what my values are, what I stand for, and I felt sick,” Brianna Stewart said after an Unrivaled game in Miami. “Everything you see on IG and in the news, we are now driven by hate, not love. I want to send a simple message: ‘Abolish ICE,’ which means lifting up families and communities and creating policies that lift up families and communities, not fuel fear and violence. When human lives are at stake, it matters more than anything else.”
“For the second time in less than three weeks, we have lost another beloved member of our community in the most unimaginable way,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said before Sunday’s game. “As an organization, we are heartbroken by what we have witnessed, endured and watched, and we just want to express our thoughts, prayers and concerns to Mr. Pretty’s family, all of his loved ones, and everyone involved in this unconscionable situation in a community that we truly love, a community filled with good natured, peaceful and proud people…
“I’m more than just a resident. This is my home. I love living here. I love being part of this community. I’ve been embraced from day one. The people have been great. It’s sad to see what happened. On a human level, certainly as someone who’s proud to be here, I know a lot of our players feel the same way. They all love being here, it’s just hard to see what we’re going through.”
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Maybe Monday night’s win is a small step toward bringing some joy and starting to help the community heal.