In a five-point game with three minutes left in regulation, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder went blow for blow as both teams combined to convert on the next seven possessions.
The game continued to crescendo with defying acrobatics to the basket and marksman-like shooting from outside at a torrid pace.
But after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went 1-for-2 at the free-throw line, giving the Thunder a 126-123 lead with 9 seconds remaining, the compelling Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals came to a screeching halt.
Chris Finch
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch
Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Oklahoma City, exploiting the NBA's rules, fouled the Timberwolves on the inbound to keep the Wolves from having a chance at a game-tying 3-pointer. The game suddenly turned into a free-throw contest akin to the end of gym class.
The Thunder fouled at every opportunity on the inbound, forcing the Wolves to go to the free-throw line and attempt to gather an intentional missed free throw to get a chance to tie the game.
NBA expert Nate Duncan called out the fault in the NBA's rules that the Thunder exploited and offered an alternative.
"The NBA has to change the rule to eliminate the 'smart' play of fouling up 3. Should be 1 shot and the ball if you foul outside the 3-point line up 3 with shot clock off. Turned an amazing game into a FT contest late, robbed us of a great finish," Duncan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
"Thought the exact same thing watching the end of this one play out," a fan replied. "Completely deflated the excitement of a close game."
"Absolutely horrific to allow this 'strategy'. Robbing fans of an exciting moment (and robbing players of an opportunity to make legendary clutch plays)," another fan echoed. "This is an entertainment product, what in the world is Silver thinking here?!"
One fan offered another idea that would incentivize teams to play defense instead of fouling.
"A reasonable option," they wrote. "How about a third shot if you make the first two when fouled behind the three point line?"
It's safe to say there's a bevy of directions the league could go as fans have considered several potential improvements to the situation that played out in Game 4.
"Intentional fouls should ALWAYS be 1 shot and the ball. Intentional fouls are the worst part of the [game] in every form," another fan wrote.
"NBA has to go to Elam Ending (playing to a final score instead of the clock expiring). It's real basketball vs. FT contest and a yawner finish," one fan wrote in agreement. "Once fans get over the shock factor of turning off the clock, it's inarguably better to watch. I think it happens within 10 years, and then other leagues will follow (college, HS)."
However, the dilemma is that the rule would only penalize teams that are ahead.
One fan argued: "So you want to allow fouling if you’re down 3, but penalize fouling if you’re up 3? Isn’t that manufactured competition?"
A fair solution may not be evident, but one thing that is clear is that this sort of controversial loss is a bit fitting for a Minnesota team.
"Losing an absolute gut-punch playoff game while the whole world goes, 'Man, this league should really change some officiating rules' is a Minnesota tradition as old as time," Zach Pierce of The Athletic wrote.