MINNEAPOLIS — In honor of the Minnesota Timberwolves' first trip to the Western Conference Finals in 20 years, Minneapolis officials are painting the town — literally.
Minneapolis Public Works crews painted "GO WOLVES!" on First Avenue North between Fifth and Sixth Streets to celebrate the team's postseason run.
“Bringing out the blue and green on our city streets is just one way to show our support,” said City Operations Officer Margaret Anderson Kelliher in a press release. “Sports fans from across the country are looking to Minneapolis for the first two games of the series and we want to showcase our best.”
On Wednesday, the city also put up temporary Wolves street signs with the team's colors and logo at two intersections — First Ave. & Sixth Street and First Ave. & Seventh St.
"Downtown is howling with excitement and painting the town Timberwolves,” said Mayor Jacob Frey in a release. “Thank you to our Public Works crews who have been out the past two days putting up temporary street signs and painting streets to celebrate the Wolves. Bring Ya A** downtown – because Minneapolis is ready!”
Frey's "Bring Ya A**" reference is a callback to Wolves star Anthony Edwards' response during a postgame interview Sunday night when Hall of Famer and current TNT analyst Charles Barkley said he hadn't been to Minnesota in 20 years.
Barkley was at the Target Center Wednesday night as the Dallas Mavericks took down the Wolves 108-105 to grab the early lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 2 tips off Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Minneapolis.
According to the release, the paint and temporary signs will remain through the series.
“Team Public Works is always at the ready, and this time they answered the call to support our T-Wolves,” said Public Works Director Tim Sexton. “Thanks to our crews who worked overnight to paint the encouraging words – and touched up crosswalks in the area while they were at it. This is Minneapolis at its finest.”
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