During a recent NBA playoff game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo had a heated exchange with a referee. The incident occurred in the fourth quarter as the Timberwolves held a narrow lead.
DiVincenzo attacked the basket but missed the shot. No foul was called, leading to visible frustration. Shortly after, he fouled Lakers player Luka Doncic while attempting to recover.
Frustrated by the sequence, Donte DiVincenzo turned and appeared to direct an NSFW comment at the referee. Cameras captured the interaction.
Despite the clear verbal outburst, officials on the court did not issue a technical foul or any other game-time penalty.
The lack of immediate discipline raised eyebrows, given the NBA's stated stance on player conduct and recent history of fining players for similar or lesser infractions.
Minnesota teammate Anthony Edwards and Memphis guard Ja Morant are among players who have faced penalties this season for verbal outbursts or gestures. Edwards recently received a $50,000 fine.
The game itself saw the Timberwolves defeat the Lakers 116-104. This loss put the Lakers behind 2-1 in the playoff series.
Luka Doncic played despite battling illness, contributing 17 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds for the Lakers. Donte DiVincenzo finished with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists in the game.
Following the game, Donte DiVincenzo commented on his team's focus after the win.
"I mean, you just said it, attention to detail. Locking on the game plan, understanding who they have on the floor, what we want to do, what we want to take away, and what they want to get to," DiVincenzo said during the interview. "There's still stuff to clean up. But it's always great to try to clean it up with a win."
