The trouble for the Wolves began with a late substitution before the Heat inbounded. Finch subbed out Rudy Gobert in a defensive-friendly lineup and subbed back in Conley, who only guarded the inbounder on the play.
“I’m pretty good on that end of the floor, and I live for those moments,” Gobert said. “It’s what I do best. I was frustrated for sure, but decisions. Coach made decisions, and we’re living with that.”
The Heat ran a series of screens between the three-point line and halfcourt, and both Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker said it is their strategy in that situation not to switch on screens before the ball is inbounded.
But on the replay, it appears Edwards got caught on a screen, and Alexander-Walker had to switch onto Nikola Jović, who had a step on him. Jović raced to the hoop and got the layup plus a foul on Alexander-Walker.
“I was a little hesitant to just go,” Alexander-Walker said. “I think at that point, with the clock situation and everything, all bets are off, I guess, and you just have to take it. When I read it late, at that point I probably should’ve just wrapped him up, but I tried to make a play for it.”