The NBA is reversing course on Anthony Edwards’ questionable technical foul in Game 1 against the Denver Nuggets.
During the third quarter of Saturday’s upset victory over Denver, Edwards was whistled for a T by referee Courtney Kirkland. After Edwards scored a basket on Nuggets guard Reggie Jackson, he gave Jackson a brief stare … which Kirkland deemed worthy of a technical foul.
Here is the video (note that James Capers is the referee visible instead of Kirkland, who called the T from off-screen).
HOW DID ANT GET A TECH FOR THIS BRO WHAT pic.twitter.com/klQRLRjZo2
— KingCharge (@KingCharge) May 5, 2024
On Sunday, the NBA righted the wrong. They announced that Edwards’ T had been rescinded upon subsequent league office review.
Anthony Edwards’ (MIN) technical foul at 1:15 of the 3rd quarter on 5/4/24 (vs. DEN) has been rescinded upon league office review.
— NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) May 5, 2024
Indeed, that was a pretty weak technical foul, especially given the emotions and the competitiveness of playoff basketball. Entertaining moments like that from Edwards, who finished with an enormous 43 points to lead his team to the stunning upset win, are exactly what give him appeal as an ascending face of the league too.
The one-shot technical foul on Edwards didn’t really matter in the end since Minnesota still won by a 106-99 final score. But it was not exactly a banner day for the officiating as the refs also had a huge blunder during the first half of the game.
