Game 1 between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves had everything you want from playoff basketball. Physicality, tension, and big moments. But for many fans watching on Prime Video, the real frustration was what they heard on their speakers. With games split across multiple streaming platforms, fans already have enough to deal with. Prime hasn’t had the easiest time with NBA fans, who’ve consistently called out the network during the play-ins. In fact, a broadcast glitch from the Heat-Hornets game caused screens to go blank, prompting even LeBron James to ask fans, “Am I trippin?? WTH 🤦🏾‍♂️”

Add commentary that feels out of sync with the moment, and it didn’t take long before people started reaching for the mute button. That is exactly where Candace Parker and Dwyane Wade found themselves during Saturday’s broadcast. One moment involving the Joker in particular set things off.

Tension flared between Jaden McDaniels and Nikola Jokic during a physical rebound battle in the third quarter. After scoring, McDaniels unexpectedly shoved Jokic from behind, sending him stumbling into the courtside seats. The late contact drew immediate whistles, resulting in a technical foul, while Nuggets players rushed in to back their Serbian teammate as emotions briefly boiled over.

“I don’t know if that’s a fight he really wants to pick,” Parker said of McDaniels, as she broke down the whole incident. “Have you seen Joker and his brothers?” The commentary panel broke into laughter, with D-Wade firing another shot at the Jokic family. “His brothers are around here somewhere. I bet you security went right to his brothers,” Wade concurred.

Now, Jokic’s brothers, Strahinja and Nemanja, come up every time the three-time MVP gets threatened. They infamously called out Marcus Morris in 2021, and they come up virtually every time Jokic gets into a fight. At least twice in their brother’s NBA career, the Jokic duo have been restrained by security as they attempted to join a melee on the court. The fact that the actual game announcers referenced it immediately is an indicator of how infamous they are. It was not just about one joke, though, because fans have been frustrated with Prime’s overall flow, and their social media reactions made that clear almost immediately.

Dwyane Wade and Candace Parker turn out to be unbearable for NBA fans

“She’s terrible😭,” one of the fans said about Candace Parker. Now, the 39-year-old WNBA icon has been facing some heat lately. During the Warriors-Clippers play-in game, she mispronounced Gui Santos’ name, calling him “Guy” repeatedly. It is actually pronounced as “Ghee.” However, this misstep quickly triggered a wave of backlash on social media, as fans voiced their frustration through a flood of critical comments.

Meanwhile, another one said, “Candace Parker and D-Wade a horrible!” Criticism follows Parker for disrupting big moments instead of letting them unfold naturally. Meanwhile, Dwyane Wade has drawn mixed reviews: praised for his personality but seen as overly casual or inconsistent, with some believing he needs sharper pacing and more polish, especially during extended stretches of live game coverage.

Another one said, “Candace Parker, makes me want to mute the TV for this playoff game.” It’s not that Parker lacks credibility or ball knowledge. She is a three-time WNBA Champion. But in the playoff setup, fans feel her delivery is a little too flat and unbearable, and lacks pacing alongside the play-by-play.

Another fan asked, “Please tell me I don’t have to listen to Candace Parker and Dwayne Wade all playoffs. PLEASE.” Not all playoffs. Amazon Prime Video holds a solid share of the postseason. It streams select early-round games, about one-third of the first two rounds. Still, the NBA includes Prime in its 2026 playoff schedule, but it doesn’t give it every matchup. Coverage remains split across multiple broadcasters.

Lastly, a fan shared similar sentiments, saying, “Candace Parker is the worst commentator I ever heard.” This reminds me of ESPN’s Doris Burke and the fans’ dislike of her. During the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. the New York Knicks’ Christmas Day face-off, the veteran announcer’s clear bias towards New York annoyed the fans.

The playoffs always raise the stakes, and with that comes less patience from viewers when the broadcast does not match the moment. Right now, Parker and Wade are at the center of that frustration. With Prime Video stepping into a larger role this postseason, the spotlight on its broadcast team will only grow. If Game 1 was any indication, fans are going to be loud about what they like and even louder about what they do not.