Basketball felt small inside Target Center on Sunday night. The lights were bright, the floor was ready, and the crowd showed up. Still, something felt off from the opening tip. This was not a normal NBA night in Minnesota.
The Warriors beat the T-Wolves 111–85, but the score never told the real story. The game came one day after it was postponed due to the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti, who was killed less than three miles from the arena. By the time the ball went up, the city was still hurting, and everyone inside the building felt it.
Steve Kerr On the Heavy Mood Inside Target Center
Post-game, HC Steve Kerr spoke to reporters in the postgame media session at Target Center. His words cut straight to the point.
“Honestly, what I felt was that their group was suffering,” Kerr said after the win. “The vibe in the stands was one of the most bizarre, sad games I’ve ever been a part of. You could feel the somber atmosphere. Their team, we could tell, was struggling with everything that’s been going on and what the city has been through.”
Steve Kerr called the arena atmosphere in Minneapolis today one of the most “bizarre, sad” vibes he’s experienced at a game
Warriors blew out the Timberwolves.
“Honestly what I felt was that their group was suffering.” pic.twitter.com/K1EsR6Fr8j
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 26, 2026
HC acknowledged the win but made it clear that basketball took a back seat. “Obviously, we’re happy about the win,” he added. “But it was very difficult to see so many people struggling.”
The T-Wolves held a moment of silence for Pretti before tipoff, following another recent tribute for Renée Good earlier this month. Head coach Chris Finch addressed the community before the game and showed visible emotion.
“I’m more than a resident. This is my home,” Finch said during the pregame. “It’s sad to watch what is happening.”
During the matchup, the Warriors took control in the third quarter, outscoring the T-Wolves 38–17. Steph led the Warriors with 26 points, while Ant-Man tallied 32 for the T-Wolves. Yet the usual energy never arrived.
Warriors guard Moses Moody spoke after the game in the locker room. “You definitely felt the weight of the city,” he said. “You don’t see crowds like that often in situations like this.”
Outside the arena, protests continued and spilled into the arena as well. Chants of “ICE out” echoed during stoppages. Even the dunk team’s members wore shirts with the same message.
As the teams prepare to meet again, Minnesota faces more than just a losing streak. The city is grieving, and for one strange night, the NBA felt that pain too.
