MINNEAPOLIS — How little good it does anyone now.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been informed by the NBA that the officials erred in failing to call a foul on Lakers guard Kobe Bryant on the final play of Wednesday night’s game.
The league, according to its website, ruled that the foul should have been called on Bryant, who hit Minnesota point guard Ricky Rubio in the wrist as he attempted a long 3-point shot that would have tied the game. Instead, the referees let the play stand, and the Lakers went on to win, 120-117, their 22nd consecutive win against the Timberwolves.
After the game, the consensus among the Timberwolves was that the play had been a blatant foul, whereas the Lakers’ opinions ranged from happiness to cocky assuredness. A look at those reactions:
"What do you think? I mean, come on."
– Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman, when asked whether he thought a foul should have been called. Adelman also said he was most worried about simply getting Rubio, who was beside himself, off of the court.
"We all think that he got fouled on that last play, but sometimes that happens."
– Timberwolves swingman Chase Budinger, who was on the court at the time and said he had one of the best angles from which to see the no-call
"I was happy. I don’t know about surprised. Then again, I didn’t see anything, so I don’t know."
– Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni, who said "I didn’t see anything" in such a way as to suggest that he might have meant the exact opposite
"I didn’t see the replay."
"If you get hit in the hand, even if you get hit in the hand, it’s not a foul."
– Lakers big man Pau Gasol, whose logic was solid except for the fact that Bryant hit Rubio on the wrist, not the hand
"That's not a foul. They ain't calling that s---. I don't think I got him. That's a tough call to make."
"I just put my hand in. It’s not like I went out and smacked him across the arm or anything."
"We would have gone into overtime and won the game. It’s as simple as that."
– Bryant, who was not about to admit to anything
"I don’t want to think about it."
– Rubio, when asked whether he thought the shot, if not altered by Bryant, would have gone in, or whether he might have made all three free throws if the foul had been called
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