Minnesota Timberwolves heart Rudy Gobert implied after fouling out Friday evening that sports activities betting is influencing how video games are officiated within the NBA.
Late within the fourth quarter, with Minnesota up 97–96 on the Cleveland Cavaliers, Gobert fouled out after committing an offensive foul with 27.8 seconds left. The middle instantly made a cash gesture on the referees, leading to a one-shot technical foul for Cleveland.
Cavaliers guard Darius Garland went on to make the free throw to ship the sport to additional time. Cleveland would go on to win the sport 113–104.
Rudy Gobert will get a technical foul for making the cash signal at officers after fouling out. pic.twitter.com/AXdGSkowMU
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) March 9, 2024
After the sport, Gobert admitted he shouldn’t have fouled out, blaming himself for the loss. Nevertheless, he additionally blamed the referees for seemingly making too many errors themselves.
“I made some errors. I air-balled a dunk. Errors occur. Referees make errors, too,” Gobert stated, through Joe Vardon and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. “However generally I believe it’s greater than errors. I believe everybody that’s on this league is aware of. I believe it’s obtained to get higher.”
Gobert acknowledged that he’ll in all probability get fined however additional clarified his feedback, saying the elevated reputation of sports activities betting is having a destructive influence on the sport.
“I do know the betting and all that’s changing into larger and larger, nevertheless it shouldn’t really feel that means,” Gobert stated.
The Timberwolves are at the moment combating for the highest spot within the Western Convention, at the moment sitting simply 0.5 video games behind the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder for the No. 1 seed.
