After a heated Game 3 involving referee Tony Brothers and Chris Finch, Anthony Edwards said the rivalry is simply part of competing—and the Timberwolves still face a must-win Game 4.
A confrontation involving an NBA referee, a head coach, and a star player flared during Friday night’s Game 3, and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Anthony Edwards made his position clear as the dust settled.
The incident happened during the Spurs’ and Timberwolves’ matchup when referee Tony Brothers had to be held back after confronting Minnesota coach Chris Finch.. Witnesses to the exchange described a shouting match that ultimately required Timberwolves players and members of the coaching staff to break it up.
After the game, Finch characterized Brothers’ conduct as unprofessional.. Edwards. standing near Finch as the situation cooled down. signaled he wasn’t worried about the altercation as Minnesota shifted its focus back to the court.. In remarks reported after the game. he framed the moment as a normal byproduct of competing at the highest level—emphasizing that everyone involved. including the coach and the officials. is focused on the outcome.
Finch later returned to the incident during his postgame press conference. explaining that Brothers did not grant him a timeout quickly enough late in the fourth quarter.. Finch said he asked for the timeout and believed the referee heard him. but that the play continued as if the request wasn’t followed promptly.. He also argued the delay nearly resulted in a turnover.
The Timberwolves’ game result only added weight to Finch’s frustration.. San Antonio won Game 3. taking it 115-108. and Minnesota marked its second consecutive loss in the series after an upset victory in Game 1.. The series shifted again with each team searching for answers. and the heated moment became another storyline in a matchup already defined by intensity.
For Edwards personally, the night offered a reminder that his production carried the offense even amid the turbulence off the floor. He played without a minutes restriction and recorded a team-high 32 points along with 14 rebounds and six assists.
Minnesota’s offensive burden, however, was not shared broadly.. No other Timberwolves player topped 20 points. leaving the scoring distribution more concentrated than it had been in earlier phases of the series.. Naz Reid finished with 18 points, and Jaden McDaniels contributed 17, but his shooting included an inefficient 5-for-22 performance.
Looking ahead, Game 4 is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, giving both teams a chance to reset quickly. For Minnesota, the combination of a narrow margin between momentum and mistakes—and a late-game timeout dispute that Finch says almost swung the possession—could loom large as preparations begin.
Officiating disputes in the NBA can carry a special kind of pressure because they happen in late-game decision windows. when every stop and sequence matters.. Finch’s account. centered on the timing of a timeout request. speaks to how quickly a disagreement can become consequential even without changing the bigger picture of a series.
At the same time. Edwards’ reaction suggested the locker room’s focus may be less about relitigating the confrontation and more about executing to keep games from slipping away.. As Minnesota heads into Game 4. the stakes remain straightforward: the Timberwolves are trying to stop the skid that followed their earlier series win. while the Spurs are looking to build on the momentum from Friday night.
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