Timberwolves coach Chris Finch blasts officiating from Game 1 vs. Warriors

Given a night to think about his team’s Game 1 loss, Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch did not hold back.

Finch blasted the officiating in the game, particularly regarding the lack of calls for Wolves big man Rudy Gobert.

“On defensive rebounding, they do a lot of fouling, holding, shoving, pushing and tackling Rudy (Gobert),” Finch said Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “I’m not sure I know another player in the league with Rudy’s pedigree that is allowed to be physically beaten on the way he is.”

Finch added that the team will send “a bunch of those clips to the league.”

Gobert, who dominated with a 27-point, 24-rebound performance in Minnesota’s series-clinching game against the Lakers, was expected to do much of the same against a Golden State team starting six-foot-six forward Draymond Green at the five.

But Gobert, who stands seven-foot-one, recorded nine points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes during Tuesday’s loss to the Warriors and was benched in favour of Naz Reid down the stretch.

Questioning the officiating could leave Finch with a hefty fine to pay.

“We’ll certainly try to take justice into our own hands whenever we can,” Finch said. “…You should see some of these clips, they look like pulling guards and linemen out there just taking shots at Rudy.”

Game 2 of the Timberwolves-Warriors series is set for Thursday.

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