Wolves’ Chris Finch gets into it with official late in the game (0:29)Wolves’ Chris Finch gets into it with official late in the game (0:29)
Anthony SlaterMay 9, 2026, 01:47 AM ETMultiple Authors
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch called it “completely unprofessional behavior” for official Tony Brothers to confront him on two occasions during a fourth-quarter stoppage Friday night.
“I [told him], ‘I want my three seconds back,'” Finch said. “He clearly heard me [call a timeout]. He looked my way, ignored me, went on with the play. Almost cost us a turnover.”
Brothers, who didn’t appear to appreciate Finch’s demonstrative reaction, walked toward the Minnesota huddle to share a few retaliatory words. Timberwolves center Naz Reid intercepted Brothers and temporarily broke up the argument.
But Finch went back to talk to Brothers a few moments later, telling reporters postgame he wanted to ask the official where the basketball would be inbounded. Brothers again advanced toward Finch, and the two had words.
Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland and assistant coach Pablo Prigioni stopped Brothers before he got all the way to Finch, and eventually the interaction cooled. Anthony Edwards was standing next to Finch during the final stages of the yelling match.
“Competition at the highest level,” Edwards said. “We wanna win. Finchy wanna win. Tony Brothers is Tony Brothers. We all love him.”
This was the second straight night in the NBA playoffs that an exchange with an official entered the spotlight. Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves called an interaction with official John Goble “disrespectful” in a Game 2 loss in Oklahoma City on Thursday night.
The back-and-forth between Finch and Brothers was just part of what materialized into a disappointing night for the Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves eventually responded. Edwards scored 12 points in the final 2:08 of the first quarter to jolt Minnesota. The score was tied 51-51 at halftime. It was 102-100 when Finch called that timeout in the middle of the fourth quarter.
But the Spurs closed behind a dominant performance from Victor Wembanyama, who finished with 39 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks.
The Timberwolves had plenty of opportunities. They had 15 offensive rebounds and took 14 more shots — 99 to 85 — than the Spurs but made only 38% of them, struggling to finish over Wembanyama’s disruptive length.
Two of the Timberwolves’ most important scorers, Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels, shot a combined 8-of-34 from the field.
Wolves’ Chris Finch gets into it with official late in the game (0:29)Wolves’ Chris Finch gets into it with official late in the game (0:29)
Wolves’ Chris Finch gets into it with official late in the game (0:29)
Anthony SlaterMay 9, 2026, 01:47 AM ETMultiple Authors