The Timberwolves’ game against the Suns took a wild turn when head coach Chris Finch got ejected in the third quarter. And if you know Finch, you know this is rare. The guy is usually pretty calm, so seeing him lose it on the officials? Yeah, that caught everyone off guard.

But here’s the thing—his frustration didn’t just pop up out of nowhere. Turns out, he’d been fired up all day. Apparently, this all started way before tip-off. Players said Finch was on one during their film session earlier in the day, calling guys out and ensuring that they stayed locked in.

Julius Randle said bluntly, “You should’ve seen him this morning.” And Nickeil Alexander-Walker? He made it even clearer: “He woke up choosing violence. … Everybody was getting yelled at.”

So yeah, Finch was already amped up, and by the time he got to the sidelines, that energy just carried over. Midway through the third, Finch was having what looked like a normal conversation with referee CJ Washington. Nothing crazy, no dramatic hand-waving—just talking. Then, out of nowhere, Washington T’d him up. Finch’s reaction? Absolute disbelief.

He was already on thin ice after picking up a tech earlier, so when he got hit with another one, he snapped. The dude stormed toward Washington, fuming before Anthony Edwards had to hold him back.

Even Bradley Beal looked confused, Now given how the NBA has been cracking down on coaches lately, there’s a real chance Finch could get fined. Probably somewhere in the $ 15K-$50K range, depending on how the league sees it. A suspension seems unlikely, but still—this wasn’t a great look. Nevertheless, Finch’s antics was backed up by a key personnel in the team.

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Assistant coach Micah Nori: “He was fighting for our guys”

After the game, assistant coach Micah Nori (who took over after Finch got tossed) backed him up. “Finchie felt that we needed a little bit of a boost, and you know, he was just fighting for our guys.” He also pointed out that Finch was already on a short leash after his first tech, so when he got the second one, it kinda felt like the team fed off that energy. And honestly? It worked.

Finch’s outburst wasn’t just about this one game. His entire mindset seems to be shifting. Even after their win against Atlanta a few nights ago, he wasn’t happy. He told the team straight up: “Don’t accept in victory what you wouldn’t in defeat.” In other words, just because they won doesn’t mean they played the right way.

Nori backed that up, too: “I think it’s always great when a coach challenges them, as Finchie did, and they respond in the right manner.” And that’s exactly what they did. After he got tossed, the Wolves locked in, played with more energy, and handled business. Chris Finch getting ejected wasn’t just a random moment of frustration—it was a message.

He’s demanding more from this team, and they’re responding. With the Western Conference being an absolute bloodbath, the Wolves need to be at their best every night. And if Finch’s new fiery approach keeps getting this kind of response from his guys?