As a whole, the 113-104 OT loss was due to multiple factors, many of which were the Wolves’ own doing. Rudy Gobert fouled out in the 4th quarter, Anthony Edwards and Mike Conley combined to go 0-for-12 from behind the 3-point line and they were outscored by the Cavs 16-7 in overtime.

But there were plenty of factors that were out of their control. Obviously, the Karl-Anthony Towns injury hurt — though Naz Reid had the best game of his career (34 PTS, 5 REB, 2 BLK, 7/11 3PT) –, but Monte Morris was out too, and Chris Finch had to vacate the arena prior to tip-off because of an illness.

Scott Foster + Cavaliers vs Minnesota Timberwolves

As the night unfolded, however, the Timberwolves’ biggest problem became the referees, led by longtime NBA official, Scott Foster, who has been a ref in the league since 1994. More on him momentarily. Because we need to start with the most controversial televised money sign since Johnny Manziel last played in the NFL.

It came from Rudy Gobert, in the closing seconds of the 4th quarter Friday night. After another questionable foul by Foster, Rudy turned to the 25+ year veteran and rubbed the tips of his thumbs with the tips of his fingers, AKA: the money sign. An immediate technical foul was assessed, and the points Cleveland scored because of that tech allowed the game to go to OT.

Rudy Gobert just told Scott Foster he knows a PARLAY when he sees it!! Croissant man is hilarious!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💀💀💀
pic.twitter.com/21ize1PjPC

— 73-9 and THEY LIED (@CuffsTheLegend) March 9, 2024

Listen it was dumb, but Rudy Gobert getting a T for making the money gesture is hilarious pic.twitter.com/tHuff6CxZa

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) March 9, 2024

Let’s start with, and consequently move on from, how dumb the timing of Gobert’s money sign really was. Even if he was right (and he has plenty of evidence in his favor), gesturing to the referees that they are being paid off to make calls against you, or throwing games in favor or your opponent, is going to get you a technical foul every time.

So doing it with 27.5 seconds left and your team up by one point is absolutely unacceptable. Ok, now that we’ve stated the obvious, let’s dig into why Rudy did what he did and why the coinciding tech was only the 2nd-biggest factor in last night’s loss.

Friday’s Timberwolves vs Cavaliers game was the worst officiated NBA game I’ve ever watched in real time. The referee bias against the Wolves was so palpable that, if they weren’t aggressively trying to push Cleveland to victory, then the league has an entirely different referee problem on its hands. Incompetence.

Related: Why was Anthony Edwards Late to Timberwolves vs Blazers Game?

All night long, the refs were extremely quick to the whistle whenever against the Timberwolves and swallowed it repeatedly whenever the Cavs got physical. It started early on when Anthony Edwards put Jarrett Allen on a poster and got called for flexing and yelling afterward, even though he wasn’t looking at Allen when he did it.

🫵🫵🫵🫵🫵 pic.twitter.com/71SQz6B74N

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 9, 2024

Related: Skip Bayless Calls Anthony Edwards’ Game-Saving Rejection ‘The Easiest Block Ever’

Even the foul that ended Gobert’s night and led to his money sign was questionable, at best. It’s like these bigs get sick of Rudy bullying them in the paint all night so they resort to flopping around instead everytime he gest physical with them instead.

Allen got Rudy twice. The earlier foul call came when Gobert was posting up to hard. He elbowed Jarrett in the chest on a hard back to the basket post move and he was called for a flagrant. The play went to review and was still determined a flagrant 1. I mean, it was all night long and the internet could not believe what it was seeing.

rudy gobert flagrant 1 foul pic.twitter.com/CgHOSz6IFx

— ◇ (@2MANYBRIDGES) March 9, 2024

“So how can we get more calls Scott?” pic.twitter.com/GQEmXDU9yF

— Jaden McDaniels GOAT (@JadenMcDanielsF) March 9, 2024

Related: Karl-Anthony Towns is Prioritizing Wolves Playoff Run Over His Own Future with Meniscus Quick Fix

Just an amazingly awful call by ref Scott Foster OT this Wolves game. ELITE def by #Howl, Garland desperate three, phantom call. Terrible.

— Paul Allen (@PAOnTheMic) March 9, 2024

After the game, reporters went to Rudy Gobert, who apologized for costing his team a loss, even if he does believe what he said to Foster on the court. But he also made it clear that he believes Scott Foster and other NBA refs are being paid off, either by the NBA, by sportsbooks or by gamblers to influence games. And he wants it to stop. Here are his full quotes (via Dane Moore)

“It’s not just one call. Everybody makes mistakes, but when it’s throughout the whole game and it’s over and over and over that things are weirdly officiated. And obviously that’s my sixth foul. Yeah, of course it’s frustrating. Then obviously my reaction — which I think is the truth I truly believe — and even if it is the truth, I think it wasn’t the time for me to react that way. I should have not done that. Cost my team the game. And obviously, they can’t wait to give me a tech. So yeah, that was a bad, that was an immature reaction from me.”

“I’ve been in this league a long time, man. And I understand this game pretty well. I love this game. I love to go and compete every night with my teammates. Tonight, it was the second night of a back to back. Obviously I made some mistakes. I elbowed on the dunk (an offensive foul he committed). Mistakes happen. Referees make mistakes, too. Sometimes I think it’s more than mistakes. And I’m gonna stay at that. I think everyone that’s in this league knows. And I think it’s got to get better. I’ll bite the bullet again. I’ll be the bad guy again that speaks what I think is the truth. And hopefully the league — I mean they’re probably gonna fine me, and once again I’ll take the fine — but I think it’s hurting our game. We shouldn’t — I know the betting and all that is becoming bigger and bigger — but it shouldn’t feel that way. And I give all my respect to the other team, to Cleveland. They played a hell of a game, too. But just let the players decide the game.”

Rudy Gobert on flashing the money symbol at Scott Foster (quote via Dane Moore)

Does Rudy Gobert have a case against Foster?

Look, I’m not saying that Rudy Gobert is right but I am saying that he isn’t the only one to accuse Scott Foster of cheating. Scott had a high-profile beef with Chris Paul last season and he’s gone toe-to-toe with other NBA stars throughout the years, including issues with Allen Iverson around the time “disgraced” referee Tim Donaghy resigned in the mid-2000s.

@plutorecaps NBA Rigged? #nba #basketball #hoops #refs #rigged #gilbertarenas #podcast #sports #fyp ♬ this feeling – Øneheart

If you will remember, Donaghy resigned back in 2007 because he was supposedly betting on and/or trying to persuade games to certain outcomes for others.

Now, there are a lot of conspiracy theories about what happened back then, including one from Donaghy himself who claims he was not a rogue referee with a gambling problem or debts owed to bad people. Instead, he claims it’s the NBA who wants certain outcomes for certain games and that it’s the refs’ job to help facilitate that.

Related: What if Anthony Edwards is ‘Carry My Team to the NBA Finals Nearly Every Year’ Special?

But that’s an entirely different rabbit hole we don’t have time to travel down. Instead, it’s important to know that, during the time he was being investigated, Donaghy placed more phone calls (134) to his referee buddy, Scott Foster, than he did his own girlfriend (126). Here is Foster’s Wikipedia bio:

Foster has been labeled as the worst referee in the NBA by anonymous players polls ranging from 2016 to 2023. He has also been nicknamed “The Extender” because teams trailing in playoff series have often won games he has officiated, thus lengthening the number of games played. The records show disgraced referee Tim Donaghy placed 134 calls to referee Scott Foster — more than the 126 calls Donaghy made to his girlfriend — between October 2006 and April 2007, the period during which he has confessed to either betting on games or passing on game information to gamblers. The majority of the phone calls lasted no more than two minutes and occurred prior to and after games Donaghy officiated and on which he admits wagering.

Wikipedia

Related: 3 New Names Linked To Minnesota Timberwolves Ahead of NBA Trade Deadline

After dominating the first half and building a 69-47 lead into halftime, the Wolves came out of the break looking like a completely different team. They were outscored 36-23 in the 3rd quarter, 32-23 in the 4th and 14-8 in overtime. Dumb decisions, turnovers and immature basketball is what led to such an embarrassing loss.

Kyle Anderson’s late game technical foul

But when the game was over, too many of the Timberwolves players, and even All-Star game head coach, Chris Finch, wanted to talk more about a late Kyle Anderson technical foul call than how in the hell they blew such a huge lead vs a bottom feeder opponent in the first place.

Here’s the technical foul call in question. It happens with just over one-minute left in the 4th quarter, with the Wolves leading 115-112. You’ll see Anderson yelling at the ref in the top-left corner of the screen, prior to the tech being called. Below the video, you can read the complaints of both Kyle Anderson and Chris Finch.

Kyle Anderson was hit with a bench technical with less than 1:30 remaining 😳

pic.twitter.com/lKM4NSWsZT

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 7, 2024

“I couldn’t believe it. We’re focusing on the wrong thing. The only ones that used profanity I’m out there all the time; I heard profanity all game being yelled at the refs. I didn’t use profanity. I said, ‘that’s an and-1’. [So] give me a tech? I thought that was a little weird. I don’t know.”

“I think he pulled the trigger a little too early, honestly. All we were saying on the bench was, ‘it’s a foul, and an and-1’. Nobody used profanity, nothing malicious. Just caught up in the moment of the game. That was a quick trigger. I don’t think a veteran ref is calling a tech on that. Nothing to do with the game. But he did.”

Kyle Anderson

Related: Anthony Edwards Fed Up With ‘Cheatin A** Refs’, Welcomes Future Fine

“It seemed to me like an incredibly quick and unnecessary, at that point in time, call. Just reacting to a play in the moment that I didn’t think was over-demonstrative. I don’t think there was an excessive discussion or language used or anything like that.”

Chris Finch

The Wolves claim they were surprised by the technical foul call and that they didn’t hear a warning, like the crew chief claims they were. But why Kyle Anderson wants to talk so much about whether or not he used profanity makes no sense. Who cares, the refs mentioned nothing about profanity in their postgame explanation.

They said Kyle Anderson was complaining too much. They warned him, he kept going, so they gave him a tech: “After being instructed to stop complaining, Anderson continued to complain so he was issued an unsportsmanlike technical for continuous complaining.”

Was the timing bad? Yes. Does it matter? No.

Minnesota Timberwolves need to move on from ref drama

I have a crazy idea. but I think it just might work. How about we stop complaining and focus on playing better basketball? If the Minnesota Timberwolves would stop worrying so much about whether or not the refs are conspiring against them, the answer to that question wouldn’t matter.

You are a 35-win basketball team BEFORE THE ALL-STAR BREAK. Even if the refs are working against you, more than for you, you’ve proven that it doesn’t matter as long as you play well. I get the general idea of all the complaining and ‘working the refs’. It’s how superstars get more calls, or so they believe.

But in the Timberwolves’ case, it isn’t working. In fact, it’s making things worse. Anthony Edwards took his complaints public and it cost $40K. Kyle Anderson is getting T’d up from the bench in huge end-of-game moments. So, it’s time to pull back. Control what you can control, which is playing better basketball.

Related: Local Insider Says Reports Timberwolves Offered 4 Picks for Tyus Jones are 100% False

Focus on the fact that you blew a 23 point lead, not on how the refs supposedly screwed you AFTER you had allowed Chicago back into the game in the first place. Why was last night’s contest even in a place where that technical foul call meant anything or that Kyle Anderson cared to complain that much.

With just over one minute left at the United Center on Tuesday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves should have been leading by 30 points. The G-Leaguers and bench warmers should have been in the game. Nobody should have cared enough to get T’d up about anything that late. How about we focus more on that shit? Listen to Rudy Gobert, maybe…

“We got to find a way to forget about the score and just be dogs for 48 minutes. Also, once again, too much talking to the officials. They’re not going to get better. I think we got to focus on ourselves.”

Rudy Gobert

Anthony Edwards big mad at “cheatin a** refs”

Despite scoring a team-high 27 points in the win, Edwards only had one subject on his mind after. While shaking hands and dapping up teammates, a camera caught Ant complaining to (or at least near) a camera about them “cheatin’ ass refs”.

Anthony Edwards postgame after the win against the Thunder:

"Cheatin' A** Refs" 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/xn9ESyM0aj

— Ahn Fire Digital (@AhnFireDigital) January 30, 2024

Then, in his on-court postgame interview, Anthony Edwards was asked how the Wolves managed to take down the other top team in the Western Conference, on the road. Edwards reacted in disbelief at how he and his teammates accomplished such a feat, given how bad the refs were.

Related: NBA Insider Reveals Kevin Garnett Could Join Minnesota Timberwolves After Glen Taylor Sale

Ant knew he was going to get fined, and said as much, but didn’t care. Than, he extended gratitude to his coaches and teammates for their support in securing such an impossible win.

Anthony Edwards didn’t hold back on the refs tonight

pic.twitter.com/jGwCH3mxHD

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 30, 2024

Reporter: “Ant, tonight it was the battle amongst the best in the west, you guys take sole position of number in the west, how did you get it done in this environment?”

Edwards: “I don’t know, I don’t know and ima take the fine cause the refs did not give us no calls tonight, we had to play through every bump, every grab, I don’t know, I don’t know how we won tonight, big shout to my team and my coaches for sure.”

Were the refs that bad?

Was the officiating that bad? Minnesota received 19 fouls compared to the Thunder’s 17, but Oklahoma City had 22 free throw attempts, vs just 15 for Minnesota. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, alone, shot more free throws on the night that the Wolves (15).

Edwards guarded SGA in and out for much of the night and Shai took the responsibility of guarding him a lot too. Both guys consider themselves elite perimeter defenders. So, the disparity between the 16 free throws Gilgeous-Alexander shot, compared to Ant’s four (he made all four), explains his frustrations postgame.

Related: Which Timberwolves Big Man Deserves NBA All-Star Nod More, KAT or Rudy Gobert?

Nonetheless, the 22-year-old former Georgia Bulldog led the Wolves with 27 points, in addition to contributing 4 assists and 4 rebounds. This picture below tells you just about everything you need to know, too. There was no foul called on this dunk.

🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜 pic.twitter.com/aZV8d2pSCl

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) January 30, 2024

The last time Anthony Edwards complained about the refs was after these two teams met, not even two weeks ago. Again, the subject was SGA, who Ant said is impossible to guard because he gets all the calls. Of which, Shai responded with a backhanded shot at Edwards, via instagram.