Rudy Gobert made the money sign after he fouled out. It turned out to be costly for the Timberwolves.
With Minnesota leading Cleveland 97-96, Gobert got tangled up trying to rebound Anthony Edwards’ miss. When he went over Jarrett Allen’s back, the officials whistled him for his sixth foul.
Before leaving the floor, Gobert got his money’s worth. He rubbed his fingers together, universally known as the “money sign,” implying that the referees had been paid off. The officials took issue, and Darius Garland sank the technical free throw to send the game to overtime.
Allen took advantage of Gobert’s absence in the extra period, scoring 10 of Cleveland’s 16 points in OT. Cleveland went on to win the game, 113-104.
Even if it weren’t absurd to think that the officials were paid off to favor Cleveland, as a veteran leader, Gobert simply needs to be smarter. He’s 31 years old and playing in his 11th NBA season. It’s embarrassing that he’d get a technical in the final seconds of a close game.
Minnesota is already short-handed with Karl-Anthony Towns out. Blowing this game could cost the Timberwolves the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. And that could really cost them money.
