Chris Finch did not hold back when addressing his heated exchange with veteran NBA referee Tony Brothers, calling the moment both avoidable and unprofessional.
The Timberwolves head coach found himself at the center of one of the most intense officiating confrontations of the playoffs, with the situation escalating quickly during a crucial stretch of the game.
For Finch, the issue was not just the call. It was how it was handled.
Chris Finch calls Tony Brothers’ behavior ‘unprofessional’ after timeout incident
Speaking during the postgame interview, Finch explained exactly what led to the confrontation.
“Pretty unprofessional, huh? I wanted the timeout. I had called it 3 seconds earlier and I wanted the timeout,” Finch said.
He added, “I said ‘I want my 3 seconds back,’… because he clearly heard me. He looked my way, ignored me, went on with the play and almost cost us a turnover. So, and then you know, he lost it.”
Finch’s frustration centered on what he believed was a clear missed timeout call, something that could have directly impacted possession in a tight playoff game.
But the moment did not stop there. It escalated.
What happened between Chris Finch and Tony Brothers during the game
The incident took place late in the fourth quarter, when Finch signaled for a timeout as his team struggled to control the ball. According to his account, referee Tony Brothers saw the request but delayed the whistle by roughly three seconds, allowing play to continue and nearly resulting in a turnover.
Once the timeout was finally granted, Finch confronted Brothers, asking for those lost seconds back. That exchange quickly turned heated, with Finch claiming the referee “lost it” and began shouting at him when he followed up with a question about the inbound spot.
The situation became tense enough that Timberwolves players and staff had to step in, physically separating the two to prevent it from escalating further near the bench.
Despite the intensity of the moment, no technical foul was issued, which only added to the unusual nature of the exchange.
The Timberwolves would go on to lose the game 115-108, falling behind in the series, with the incident becoming one of the defining talking points afterward.
For Finch, however, the takeaway was clear. The issue was not just the missed call. It was everything that followed.
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