NBA Concludes Officials Missed 10 Calls in Final 2 Minutes as Timberwolves Lose Karl-Anthony Towns’ 62-Point Game to Hornets

Minnesota Timberwolves’ star Karl-Anthony Towns expressed frustration when officials failed to call a foul on his late, go-ahead basket attempt in Monday’s 128-125 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. The NBA disclosed on Tuesday that, upon review, officials had overlooked a staggering 10 calls in the game’s final two minutes.

Despite Towns’ remarkable 62-point performance, matching his career high and tying the Timberwolves’ franchise record, the Hornets orchestrated a comeback from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit. Towns had an opportunity to secure the win in the game’s closing seconds.

In a critical play, Towns, standing at 7 feet, faced off against the 6-foot-1 Terry Rozier with the Hornets leading 126-125. The NBA’s report revealed that Towns was fouled during the gather by Rozier and again during the shot attempt by Leaky Black, who was found to have illegally swiped Towns on the arm as he drove to the basket.

The NBA’s last-two-minute report identified a total of 10 missed calls in the final 1:57 of the game, with six calls favoring the Hornets, including the pivotal non-calls on Towns’ drive. The report also outlined two missed travels and two uncalled personal fouls on the Charlotte team.

It’s essential to note that the NBA’s acknowledgment of officiating errors does not absolve the Timberwolves from their performance issues, as head coach Chris Finch candidly criticized the team’s “disgusting” and “immature” display. The Timberwolves had surrendered their 15-point lead even before the contested final minutes, turning a potentially celebratory night for Towns into a misguided pursuit of individual glory.

While the officials did not determine the outcome of the game, the NBA emphasized the need for improved officiating standards.