CLEVELAND — Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was called a technical foul by one of the officials with 27.8 seconds left in regulation in Friday’s overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Sports. He suggested that gambling is influencing the way NBA games are judged.
With Minnesota leading by one point, Gobert was whistled for his sixth disqualifying foul and responded by flashing the money sign with both hands. Referee Natalie Sago saw him play and called him a technical, sending Cleveland’s Darius Garland with a foul shot at the line to tie the game at 97.
The Cavs went on to win 113-104.
“I think my reaction is the truth. It’s something I truly believe. Even if it were true, it wasn’t the time for me to react that way,” Gobert later said. “I shouldn’t have done that. I cost the team a game and obviously they couldn’t wait to give me the technique. That was no good. That was immature. It was a reaction.”
Asked to clarify what he believes, Gobert said, “I made some mistakes. I got a dunk on an air ball. Mistakes happen. Refs make mistakes, too. But it’s just… Sometimes I think it’s not a mistake. I think everyone who’s been in this league knows that. I think we’ve got to be better.”
Gobert said he fully expected to be fined for his comments and for being a “bad guy for saying what I think is the truth.”
However, he said he felt compelled to voice his opinion because “I think it’s having a negative effect on our game.”
“I know the stakes and all of that is getting bigger and bigger, but it shouldn’t feel that way,” Gobert said.
Gobert’s sixth foul was a loose ball violation called against him as he wrestled to corral a miss by Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen and Anthony Edwards and tangled under the Timberwolves’ basket. was. Early in the game, Gobert elbowed Allen in the ribs on a post move and was called for an offensive foul. Officials upgraded this to a flagrant foul 1 penalty after a video review.
The Cavs had a chance to win in regulation after Garland made a free throw following Gobert’s money sign gesture, but Naz Reid blocked Garland’s 3-point try. Edwards, who was playing through multiple minor injuries, threw an airball that sent the game into overtime, but the Cavs dominated the extra session.
“I thought the game was called pretty much the same both times. I think both teams were a little frustrated,” said Minnesota assistant coach Mika Nori, who replaced coach Chris Finch (illness). But that’s basketball.”
Noli said it was “unacceptable” for Gobert to get a technical late in a close game.
“We have to be smarter,” Nori said. “I think he created a visual or something, but it was kind of an automatic thing. And we all know Rudy. There’s no guy more professional than him. In that moment, he was like, I feel like it’s obviously a terrible thing to do. We’ve got to be a little better.”
As Gobert hinted, this is not the first time he has expressed dissatisfaction as host. He has made several critical comments throughout his career, including last season.
Gobert said after the loss to Phoenix last March. “I’ve been in this league for 10 years and I always try to give the benefit of the doubt, but it’s hard to imagine they’re not going to help (the Suns) win tonight.・I can’t imagine him not trying to contribute to the Kings’ victory.
“That’s pretty obvious. Honestly, as a basketball player who’s been in the league for a long time, this is disrespectful and disgusting.”
Sports betting is legal in 38 states, including Ohio, where the Caesars have a brick-and-mortar sportsbook at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland. The NBA, like other major U.S. professional sports, is allowing fans to bet on its games, announcing DraftKings and FanDuel as two official sports betting partners in 2021.
The league office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter.
Allen scored a career-high 33 points, including 15-of-21 from the free-throw line, and Garland had 34 points. In the Timberwolves’ second game since All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns went down with a torn meniscus, Reid scored a career-best 34 points off the bench and tied his career-high with seven threes. Edwards scored 19 points, but shot 7-of-27 after a night in which his game-saving block and head crash to the rim made headlines.
With this loss, the Timberwolves (44-20) fell to second place in the Western Conference, half a game behind the Oklahoma City Thunder (44-19). The Cavs (41-22) currently sit in second place in the East, a half-game behind Milwaukee.
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(Photo: Ken Blaze / USA Today)