Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards Criticizes didn’t mince words when expressing his frustration with the referees after his team’s hard-fought 107-101 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night. Edwards, known for his candidness, blasted the officials during a celebratory moment and willingly accepted the likelihood of a fine for his comments.
As the Timberwolves celebrated their narrow win, cameras caught Edwards passionately expressing his dissatisfaction, referring to the referees as “cheating ass refs.” Unfazed by the potential consequences, Edwards continued his critique during a post-game interview on the court.
“I’m gonna take the fine, because the refs did not give us no calls tonight,” Edwards declared. He elaborated on the physical nature of the game, emphasizing how the team had to play through every obstacle without favorable calls. Despite the challenges, he acknowledged the collective effort of his team and coaches in securing the victory.
“Cheating ass refs”
Anthony Edwards made it known he thought the refs were bad tonight pic.twitter.com/xe0h7Ub8tL
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Examining the game statistics, fouls were relatively evenly distributed, with 19 called on the Timberwolves and 17 on the Thunder. Free throw attempts showed a slight edge for the Thunder at 22 compared to the Timberwolves’ 15, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander accounting for a significant portion. Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch acknowledged the difficulty of guarding Gilgeous-Alexander, who frequently earns trips to the free-throw line.
Anthony Edwards Criticizes of the referees aligns with a trend in the NBA, where coaches and players have not shied away from expressing their discontent with officiating decisions. Notably, Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown received a substantial $50,000 fine for his actions following a game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Edwards’ comments, echoing sentiments shared by others, may result in a fine but underscore the ongoing discourse on officiating in the league.
The Timberwolves’ victory propelled them to sole possession of first place in the Western Conference, boasting the second-best record in the league at 33-14. With a half-game lead over the defending champion Denver Nuggets and a one-game advantage over the Thunder, the Timberwolves’ performance on the court speaks volumes despite the officiating challenges.
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