Chris Finch appreciated the Timberwolves’ fight against the San Antonio Spurs. His frustration centered on the possessions Minnesota mishandled and the contact he believed officials treated differently on opposite ends of the floor.

Following Minnesota’s 121-111 loss Saturday, Finch pointed to fourth-quarter decision-making and LaMelo Ball’s foul trouble as issues that complicated an already difficult assignment for a shorthanded team.

The Timberwolves remained competitive, but Finch did not view their effort as a reason to overlook mistakes. His assessment included both holding his players accountable and criticizing how opponents were allowed to defend his point guard.

“Great fight,” Finch said. “Down a bunch of guys and whatnot, but we had chances.”

Finch’s first concern was Minnesota’s execution when it still had opportunities to influence the outcome.

He singled out careless turnovers in the fourth quarter, making clear that the Timberwolves needed to handle those possessions with greater discipline. Competing through absences gave Minnesota a chance, but protecting the ball was necessary to capitalize on that work.

Those mistakes were particularly frustrating because they involved decisions the Timberwolves could control. A shorthanded lineup can narrow a team’s options, increasing the importance of recognizing when to attack and when to move the ball.

Finch applied that standard to Ball when asked about the guard’s combination of turnovers and recurring foul trouble.

“He’s got to figure it out,” Finch said.

The response established that Finch’s concerns about officiating did not remove Ball’s responsibility to improve his own decisions. Minnesota still needs its primary ballhandler to manage pressure without giving away possessions.

Finch also argued that Ball was dealing with excessive contact while trying to organize the offense.

He described defenders putting their hands on Ball, bumping him, holding him and forcing him away from his intended path. In Finch’s view, that physicality contrasted with the lighter contact drawing whistles against Ball defensively.

“To be fair, like they’re fouling him all over the floor,” Finch said.

When asked about maintaining Ball’s defensive aggression, Finch reviewed several of the fouls rather than suggesting the guard simply needed to become less involved.

He referenced an offensive foul, a rebounding foul and other plays on which he considered the contact marginal. His objection focused on consistency: Minnesota’s guard was being challenged physically with the ball while having limited room for contact himself.

That distinction matters for the Timberwolves. Ball must remain active defensively, but foul trouble can disrupt his availability and make it harder for him to establish continuity on offense.

Finch found encouraging contributions elsewhere, including Jonathan Kuminga’s ability to handle the matchup's physical demands.

When asked about Kuminga’s work on both ends and his willingness to make his opponent work, Finch offered a direct endorsement.

“He’s built for games like this,” Finch said. “I thought he played very well.”

Finch also credited Joan Beringer for competing through a demanding assignment. He acknowledged the difficulty of the matchup while noting that the young big man battled and contributed positive possessions.

Beringer’s ability to navigate foul difficulty offered another useful part of the experience. Remaining involved in a competitive game while managing fouls requires adjustments without abandoning the activity a team needs.

For Finch, those contributions gave Minnesota reasons for encouragement. The next step is pairing that effort with cleaner execution, particularly when late possessions leave little room to recover from a mistake.