The NBA fined Timberwolves coach Chris Finch $35,000 for his actions and ejection during Friday night’s victory over Oklahoma City, James Jones, the league’s executive vice president and head of basketball operations, announced Sunday.
The league said it was fining Finch for “directing inappropriate language” toward game officials and for “failing to leave the court in a timely manner” after his ejection.
Finch received a technical during the first quarter and then was ejected for continuing to argue with officials. After he was ejected, Finch didn’t leave the floor right away. Instead, he went back toward midcourt and kept yelling at officials while assistant coaches and security personnel held him back. That likely drew the fine for failing to leave in a timely manner.
Finch was enraged over two non-calls from officials on Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle in one possession.
While he didn’t plan on getting ejected, Finch said he “wanted to make my point” about the officiating.
Finch had complained in the past about how officials let the Thunder’s defense get away with a lot of fouling, and he wanted to prevent that Friday.
“I thought early on, the tone was being set in the wrong direction, and I wanted to set about trying to change things,” Finch said at practice Saturday. “All credit to the guys. They really responded, picked up the pieces. The staff did an incredible job navigating that game. The most important thing is we got the win and that our guys responded and played well over the last 3½ quarters.”
The Wolves went on to shoot 47 free throws in the 112-107 win.
