The Timberwolves managed to tie the first round series against the Grizzlies with a one-point home win (119-118). The visitors got in the foul trouble early with all of their starters picking up multiple fouls in the first quarter.
Ja Morant finished the game with 4 fouls, while Dillon Brooks, Xavier Tillman and Desmond Bane all had 5 fouls. Jaren Jackson Jr. was fouled out. Minnesota shot 40 free-throws in this game while Memphis had 25.
Memphis head coach Taylor Jenkins was very critical of the referees in this game, saying that it was one of the most poorly officiated games he has ever seen in his NBA career.
“In my opinion one of the most poorly officiated games I’ve ever seen in my NBA career,” he said during postgame press conference. “All five of our starters were borderline fouled out in the first quarter. 10+ foul difference, 40 free-throws.
“Yes, some things we got to clean up to get better at, but I’ve never seen a more inconsistent arrogant officiated game. I’ll take whatever hits are coming my way. I got to protect my guys. We know we got to get better.
“From the get go it was foul, foul, foul, foul, inconsistency. There was actually one play where foul whistle was blown before contact was even made. It’s embarrassing.
“But I’m always going to look at the mirror and say ‘How do we play better? How do we coach better?’ But I’m at a loss of words. I’m not going as far as if that’s the reason we lost, but I’mma let it be known that it’s messed up. Arrogance, inconsistency and big fan … whatever.”
