Tensions boiled over Friday night during Game 3 between the San Antonio Spurs and the Minnesota Timberwolves when Chris Finch got into a heated exchange with veteran referee Tony Brothers.
The situation escalated to the point where Anthony Edwards and several other players had to step in and separate the two.
Finch later blasted Brothers for what he described as “completely unprofessional behavior,” and much of the NBA world appeared to side with the Timberwolves coach.
Referee Tony Brothers Under Fire After Altercation in Spurs-Timberwolves Game 3
With 5:12 remaining in the game, Finch attempted to call a timeout during a broken possession. He later claimed that Brothers, who was positioned near him around midcourt, ignored the request and did not grant the timeout until the clock hit 5:09.
Frustrated by the delay, Finch confronted Brothers on the court, but the exchange quickly escalated.
Brothers responded by approaching the Timberwolves bench, where the two exchanged words before Naz Reid stepped in to separate them.
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Later in the fourth quarter, Finch again walked onto the court to ask where the ball would be inbounded from, which led to another confrontation with Brothers.
Tony Brothers had to be HELD BACK against Chris Finch 👀 pic.twitter.com/GgeC0nNQGV
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 9, 2026
While Edwards downplayed the incident after the game, describing it as part of the intensity that comes with high-level competition, Finch was visibly furious during his postgame press conference.
“I wanted the timeout, and I said I want my 3 seconds back,” Finch said. “He [Brothers] clearly heard me… He lost it. Then I went to ask him where the ball was gonna be taken in and he was screaming at me for that. So completely unprofessional behavior by him.”
The incident sparked strong reactions across social media and among NBA personalities.
“This league has a problem, and Adam Silver has tanked it beyond belief,” wrote Vincent Elric.
This league has a problem and Adam Silver has tanked it beyond belief https://t.co/XZauJXXFAj
— Vincent Elric (@vincent_elric) May 9, 2026
“Tony brothers losing it over a coach asking for 3 seconds back is peak nba officiating,” a content creator commented.
Spurs reporter Dusty Garza even suggested Brothers should no longer officiate playoff games.
“Seriously… Is it time for referee Tony Brothers to stop working playoff games?…Watch the video. Look at the responses below with other missed calls involving Brothers. Then decide for yourself whether this is acceptable for playoff basketball. This conversation needs to happen,” he wrote on X.
Seriously… Is it time for referee Tony Brothers to stop working playoff games?#NBA officials are among the most heavily evaluated workers in sports. Every call is reviewed in real time and graded afterward. By the later playoff rounds, only the league’s “highest-rated” refs… pic.twitter.com/cg4EoHO4qv
— SpursRΞPORTΞR (@SpursReporter) May 9, 2026
“These entitled refs think they matter more than the players,” another user posted.
Brothers has been an NBA referee since the 1994-95 season and remains one of the league’s most experienced officials.
Whether the NBA decides to review the altercation remains unclear, but former NBA star Blake Griffin also felt the referee crossed the line.
“I mean, I thought that was completely wrong,” he said on NBA on Prime. “At a certain point. I know officiating is an incredibly hard job and everybody’s always mad at you, but I’ve never seen an official go at a coach like that. To be honest, I thought Tony was out of line.”
Minnesota was led by Edwards, who put up a 32-point, 14-rebound effort in the loss, while Victor Wembanyama dominated with 39 points and 15 rebounds to help San Antonio secure a 115-108 win and take a 2-1 lead in the series.
The Timberwolves will now look to bounce back and even the series when they host Game 4 on Sunday.
