In a blockbuster showdown at Target Center, the Minnesota Timberwolves welcomed the reigning NBA champions—the Oklahoma City Thunder, who rolled into town with a glittering 25-2 record and just two losses all season. This wasn’t just any game; it was a statement opportunity for the Wolves against the league’s juggernaut. But barely six minutes in, chaos erupted.

Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch, already simmering over a string of perceived no-calls—including a missed whistle on Anthony Edwards’ drive and a blatant arm hack on Julius Randle near the rim—snapped. He stormed onto the court, chasing down the officials mid-play, unleashing a furious tirade that forced his assistants to physically restrain him.

Two quick technical fouls later, Finch was gone: ejected in stunning fashion, still barking as he was escorted to the locker room amid a roaring, equally incensed crowd.

Suddenly leaderless on the sideline, the Wolves trailed 23-33 by the end of the first quarter, staring at a potential blowout against the unbeatable Thunder.

When the incident went down, OKC was up 15-11 with Anthony Edwards back in the lineup after a two-game absence. So the Wolves were mad. Finch was madder.

Chris Finch crashes out once more

Only a few days after Ime Udoka was slapped with a $25,000 fine for ranting about officiating, this happens. Finch’s outbursts are nothing new. A year ago, he was ejected in a Suns game for calling the refs “Bozos.” But his grudge with OKC has been simmering all year.

OKC beat the Wolves in the Western Conference Finals on the way to their championship title. And their aggressive defense has been a thorn in every coach’s side for a long time. Last WCF Finch even shared his honest thoughts on it.

“It’s so frustrating to play this team because they foul a ton… They foul all the time. And then you can’t really touch Shai. It’s a very frustrating thing.”

So this was a grudge match. For Finch even more.

Even before the game was paused, announcers pointed out that Finch was “incensed” on the sidelines. Ant was initially contesting the no-call, not realising that his head coach had rushed onto the floor behind him.

He was yelling at the OKC players and the referees the entire time, while his staff was pulling him back to the bench. That was his first tech.

Ant kept contesting when Finch was back. According to some other camera angles, Chris Finch was caught on a hot microphone unleashing a profane tirade at referee John Butler. Finch’s exact words, as captured in the viral clip, were, “Come here you b—-, you’re a f—— piece of sh–,” reflecting his anger over perceived officiating errors that led to his ejection from the game.

That’s how he got his second tech within seconds. Or as the announcer put it, “And he’s gone.”

When he rushed onto the court again, it took four people to stop him! It took just as many to escort him back to the locker room to boos and cheers from the Minnesota crowd.

Wolves fans are split after Finch’s ejection. On one hand, they feel he was right to argue that call. On the other hand, they feel the Ant & Co. will be able to focus on beating OKC without Finch’s voice bothering them.

Perhaps the latter faction was correct. The Timberwolves outscored OKC in the second quarter and are keeping the score tied in the third. Hopefully, Finch is watching.