Timberwolves coach Chris Finch: Referee Tony Brothers was 'completely unprofessional' in Game 3 confrontation

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With 5:09 left in the fourth quarter of the Minnesota Timberwolves' 115-108 loss against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of their second-round series on Friday, the Wolves were granted a timeout. Minnesota coach Chris Finch, however, had tried to call it a few seconds earlier. Finch expressed his displeasure to referee Tony Brothers, then walked back toward his team's bench. Brothers then confronted him, and Minnesota big man Naz Reid got in between the two.

"Yeah, I wanted the timeout," Finch told reporters. "And I had called it three seconds earlier and I wanted the timeout and I said, 'I want my three seconds back.' 'Cause he clearly heard me. He looked my way, ignored me, went on with the play and then gave me the -- almost cost us a turnover. And then he lost it."

After that, Finch approached Brothers again. He told reporters that he was asking where Minnesota would be inbounding the ball.

"And he screamed at me for that," Finch said. "So, completely unprofessional behavior by him."

This time, Wolves assistant coach Pablo Prigioni and guard Bones Hyland got in between Brothers and Finch.

Chris Finch and the Timberwolves staff arguing with Tony Brothers, after Finch is upset about Brothers' being late on his timeout request pic.twitter.com/gTB2wJe1I6

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Minnesota center Rudy Gobert : "It's the playoffs. High emotions. High stakes. It happens." He added that, at the time, he tried to de-escalate the situation.