Sticks n stones? Timberwolves D’Angelo Russell learned words are costly

The cost of doing business in the NBA can be quite expensive, especially if you are Minnesota Timberwolves point guard D’Angelo Russell, and you feel the need to express yourself boldly in protest against perceived sleights by the NBA Referees. That was a costly lesson for the Timberwolves point guard, whose off-the-cuff commentary was unappreciated by the NBA Referees officiating a recent Timberwolves loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

It was so unappreciated that his ejection that resulted during the contest was not the end of the matter. The NBA review panel was less than happy and subsequently fined D’Angelo Russell $20,000 as well.

That was not the only ejection in the game. Typically cool-headed Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was ejected early in the game over a tripping incident. It was a foul-tainted contest, as the Minnesota Timberwolves were assessed with five Technical Fouls, one Flagrant Foul, and two ejections. Their opponents, the Oklahoma City Thunder, were assessed three Technical Fouls of their own.

The loss to the Thunder was a bit disappointing. Despite the fact that the Minnesota Timberwolves have been without Karl-Anthony Towns and Taurean Prince, the Timberwolves had enough firepower to defeat the Thunder had the team remained calm, cool and collected.

Instead, the ejection of Gobert left the Timberwolves without two starters from their frontcourt, and the Thunder took advantage of that fact by scoring 66 points in the paint. The Timberwolves did manage to regroup and win their next two contests before running into a buzzsaw with the Portland Trail Blazers, a team that swept the Timberwolves in a two-game mini-series.

Not only have the Timberwolves fallen back to a sub-.500 record of 13-14, but the team’s defense has been pitiful over the last eight games, allowing scores of 137 (L), 142 (L), 101 (W), 135 (L), 115 (W), 108 (W), 124 (L), and 133 (L) respectively.

The comments by D’Angelo Russell may have offended the Refs and the NBA office in charge of player discipline, but the Timberwolves are not defending anybody (pun intended).