MINEAPOLIS – Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins tore up game officials after the Grizzlies lost 119-118 on Saturday in Game 4 of their first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“We have to play better, but I think [this was] one of the worst-run games I’ve seen in my NBA career, “Jenkins told a news conference after the game.” All five of our starters broke down in the first quarter. Ten plus foul difference, 40 free throws. Yes, there are some things we need to clear up and improve, but I’ve never seen a more inconsistent and arrogant official game.
“So I will accept all the blows that come to me. I have to protect our boys. We know we need to improve, but from the beginning it was a foul, a foul, a foul, a foul, a foul, an inconsistency. it was, in fact, a game in which a fake whistle was blown before even contact could be made. That’s awkward. “
In Game 4, officials booed Memphis for 33 personal fouls compared to 23 for Minnesota, with the Grizzlies’ starting five combined for 25.
“I don’t even want to talk about refereeing,” said Grizzlies striker Dylan Brooks. “When I was growing up, when I was in the league for the first three years and I was watching playoff basketball, they hardly called. They let the players play and understand. I had a feeling they just wanted to run the show. They want their name on TV and their names are everywhere on TV, all three. I have to shout. “
The series, tied 2-2 and heading back to Memphis for Match 5 on Tuesday, has been marked by problems for key players. In Game 2, the teams combine to make 33 free throws in the first quarter. Grizzlies’ big man Jaren Jackson Jr., one of the team’s outstanding defenders, made 20 personal fouls in four games, scoring just 14 rebounds. He fouled on Saturday night with 4:29 left in the game.
Timberwolves center Carl-Anthony Towns is also struggling. He sat on the bench for a long time with fouls in games 2 and 3, both losses to the Timberwolves.
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