The Minnesota Timberwolves took a 3-1 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers in their first-round NBA playoff series on Sunday, but many think it would be tied 2-2 had it not been for a few questionable calls.
Minnesota left Crypto.com Arena with a 116-113 win after overcoming multiple double-digit deficits, but what seemingly everyone was talking about after was the officiating.
In fact, the role the refs played in the outcome had Lakers head coach JJ Redick on edge after, and he wasn’t afraid to make it known.
One play in particular that got Redick fired up happened in the fourth quarter when star guard Luka Doncic was tripped by Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels near midcourt but there was no foul called.
“To start with, Luka got tripped,” Redick said. “That was a blatant trip. He doesn’t just fall on his own. We rewatched it, he gets tripped. So we should have been at the free throw line. It’s not an excuse for why we lost, but he got fouled. We had a chance to go up.”
But that play wasn’t even the most controversial of the night. With 10 seconds left in the game and Minnesota holding a one-point lead, Anthony Edwards drove to the basket and had the ball swiped out of his hands by LeBron James as it rolled out of bounds.
Edwards was awarded and made two free throws to extend the lead to three before Austin Reaves missed a crucial 3-pointer in the waning seconds. After the game, James voiced his frustration with the officiating, implying the foul should have never been called.
“That play happens all the time, you know,” James told reporters. “Hand is part of the ball, that’s what they say. I felt like a hand was a part of that ball. I was able to get his hand on top of the ball, the ball stripped down, and out on him. Seen that play over and over before, but it is what it is.”
As frustrated as Reddick and the Lakers players were with what happened on the court, their fans were just as irate, with many of them calling on the NBA and commissioner Adam Silver to conduct an investigation into the officials.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) calls a timeout after stumbling on the defense of Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) in the fourth quarter during game four of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center.
Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
“Refs in the Lakers Timberwolves game today need to be investigated and fired,” one fan replied.
“@NBA INVESTIGATE YOUR [expletive] REFS, THAT [expletive] WAS [expletive] RIGGED AS [expletive]. LAKERS IN 7,” exclaimed another fan.
“@NBA INVESTIGATE THE WOVLES VS LAKERS REFS NOW,” a third fan declared.
“@NBA investigate your refs,” one user stated.
“Investigate these refs,” another user commented.