Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has been fined $25,000 and Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch has been fined $15,000 for public criticism of the officiating. Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations for the NBA made the announcement Friday afternoon.
Gobert and Finch made their comments to the media following the Timberwolves’ 107-100 loss to the Phoenix Suns on March 29 at Footprint Center.
"It's not fair. It's really not fair," Gobert said after the loss. "Every night. I've been in this league for 10 years and I try to always give the benefit of the doubt, but it's hard for me to think they're not trying to help them win tonight. It's hard for me to think they didn't try to help the Warriors win the other night or Sacramento Kings the other night. It's just so obvious. As a basketball player that's been in this league for so long, it's disrespectful."
Finch didn’t go that far, but did reference Phoenix coach Monty Williams and his criticism of officials earlier, and according to Finch it made a difference in the game against Minnesota.
"It works because tonight they went to the line 27 times and we went to the line 12 times. Sitting up here and talking about it or whatever, must have worked for them," Finch said. "Because this is a team that doesn't historically draw fouls at the rate they did."
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves are at home Friday night hosting the Los Angeles Lakers in a monster battle for playoff seeding. Minnesota is just a half game up on LA for the eight spot in the West. But there are several teams all in a bunch right now. Only three and a half games separate Phoenix in the fourth spot, from Oklahoma City in the tenth. Which means every game is huge with just over a week left in the season.
To make matters more difficult for Minnesota, there are a few key pieces that won’t be playing tonight, with a couple of others questionable.
Key reserve Naz Reid is now out indefinitely after breaking his wrist in Phoenix Wednesday. Anthony Edwards is probably to play but has been dealing with an illness. Same for Kyle Anderson. However, another key reserve, Taurean Prince has been listed as questionable with an illness. Jaylen Nowell is also questionable with a knee injury.
The Wolves and Lakers tip at 7:10 Friday night. You can hear the game right here on News Talk 830 WCCO and the Audacy App.
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