{"id":363507,"date":"2025-12-22T00:56:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T00:56:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/363507\/"},"modified":"2025-12-22T00:56:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T00:56:08","slug":"chris-finch-fined-by-nba-after-ejection-anthony-edwards-to-cover-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/363507\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Finch fined by NBA after ejection \u2014 Anthony Edwards to cover it?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch has been hit with a decent-sized fine related to his ejection<\/a> for going after the officials early in Friday night’s win over the Thunder<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Finch was fined $35,000 by the NBA, the league announced on Sunday. That’s not exactly a surprise. What would be interesting to know for sure is if Finch will be the one paying it, or if his superstar player actually plans to step in and cover the fine.<\/p>\n

Anthony Edwards, who delivered the late heroics on Friday, has at least joked about paying the fine for his head coach. And given that Edwards is making $45 million this year \u2014 quite a bit more than Finch’s salary, which isn’t publicly available \u2014 it wouldn’t hurt him much to do so. (To be clear, Finch is also getting paid quite well, so he can afford it if needed).<\/p>\n

A bit of Anthony Edwards and Chris Finch in the back hallway. Ant: \u201cWe fed off Finchy\u2019s energy.\u201d Ant later joked he\u2019d pay the fine pic.twitter.com\/ww05eNPD4c<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) December 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Bones Hyland told us on the podcast last night that Ant planned to pay for Finch\u2019s fine. So they may be one step ahead of you https:\/\/t.co\/9aoCqWP7i9<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) December 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Finch was fined specifically for “directing inappropriate language toward game officials and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his ejection,” per the league’s release<\/a>. That comes from James Jones, the NBA’s executive vice president, head of basketball operations.<\/p>\n

If you missed it, the Wolves and Thunder had played about half a quarter on Friday night at Target Center when the officials appeared to miss multiple fouls by Oklahoma City players in short succession \u2014 first against an Edwards shot, then one from Julius Randle. Finch, who had been angry with an official late in Minnesota’s previous game against the Grizzlies, blew a fuse. He was irate and did not hold back from expressing his thoughts to the refs, which led to two technicals and an ejection.<\/p>\n

Coach Finch crash out.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s been ejected less than 6 minutes in.
pic.twitter.com\/egUIRt3bhf<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) December 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Finch getting tossed may have been just what the Wolves needed to provide a spark (and perhaps impact how the refs called the rest of the game). They went on to shoot 17 more free throws than the Thunder and win a thriller behind some clutch two-way moments from Edwards, handing OKC just its third loss of the season.<\/p>\n

There’s been some thought that Finch may have been fine with getting ejected as a way to draw attention to how the Thunder are officiated<\/a>. Last season, he famously complained about how frustrating it is to play the Thunder because “they foul a ton” and “then you can’t really touch Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander).”<\/p>\n

Numerous Timberwolves players, from Edwards to Randle and beyond, said after the game that they supported Finch for having their backs. Now it sounds like Edwards might support Finch with his wallet, too.<\/p>\n

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