The Minnesota Timberwolves held a poignant moment of silence ahead of Friday night’s NBA game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, paying tribute to Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman who was shot and killed earlier this week during a confrontation with a US immigration agent.

The incident occurred less than four miles from the Timberwolves’ Target Center, sending shockwaves through the local community and casting a sombre mood over the evening’s proceedings.

Before tip-off, players, coaches, officials and fans stood together in silence as the franchise acknowledged what head coach Chris Finch described as an “unspeakable tragedy”.

Timberwolves Express Condolences to Grieving Community

Addressing the media, Finch spoke about the emotional impact the incident had on the team and the wider Minnesota community.

“As we all know, our community has suffered yet another unspeakable tragedy,” Finch said.
“We want to convey our condolences, heartfelt wishes, prayers and thoughts to the families, loved ones and everyone who has been deeply affected by what happened.”

The Timberwolves’ gesture reflected the NBA’s long-standing tradition of recognising significant events affecting local communities, reinforcing the connection between professional sports teams and the cities they represent.

Timberwolves Continue Strong Home Form With Cavaliers Win

Despite the emotional backdrop, Minnesota delivered an impressive performance on the court, defeating the Cavaliers 131-122 to claim their fourth consecutive victory.

Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with a dominant all-round display, finishing with 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. The win marked Minnesota’s fifth victory in their last six home games at the Target Center, underlining their strong form in front of home supporters.

The Timberwolves currently sit fourth in the Western Conference, strengthening their position in the playoff race. Cleveland, meanwhile, remain eighth in the Eastern Conference, having now lost two of their last three games.

Pacers End Long Losing Streak as Carlisle Reaches Historic Milestone

Elsewhere in the NBA, the Indiana Pacers ended a painful 13-game losing streak with a dramatic 114-112 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

The win carried added significance as it marked the 1,000th coaching victory of Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, a major milestone in his 25-year NBA career.

Carlisle, 66, has coached the Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, and had two separate spells with the Pacers. He becomes the 11th coach in NBA history to reach 1,000 wins and the first to do so since Doc Rivers achieved the feat in 2021.

Despite the victory, Indiana remain bottom of the Eastern Conference, while the Hornets sit in 12th place.

Utah Jazz Snap Losing Run Against Mavericks

In Salt Lake City, the Utah Jazz halted a five-game losing streak with a narrow 116-114 win over the Dallas Mavericks, providing a much-needed morale boost for the struggling franchise.

Bulls vs Heat Postponed Due to Court Conditions

Meanwhile, the scheduled matchup between the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat was postponed due to unsafe court conditions at the United Center.

The venue had hosted an NHL game the previous evening, and unseasonably warm and rainy weather in Chicago caused condensation to form on the court surface. Although players from both teams completed their pre-game warm-ups, the playing surface was deemed unplayable.

After a 90-minute delay and discussions involving the NBA league office, match officials, and both teams’ coaching staffs, the decision was made to postpone the game in the interest of player safety.