Timberwolves center flashes 'money sign' again

Gobert was whistled for shoving Jamal Murray in the back under the basket late in the fourth quarter, a call that looked pretty obvious on replay. Murray may have exaggerated the contact, but Gobert clearly pushed Murray in the back with both hands.

A similar situation occurred in March as well, though the consequences were worse for the Timberwolves. Gobert fouled out on a different rebounding play, getting tangled up with Cleveland's Jarrett Allen and going over the back.

Gobert got a technical foul for the hand gesture, leading to a Darius Garland free throw. That bonus point tied the game, and Minnesota lost in overtime. 

Had the Timberwolves won that game, they'd be the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and wouldn't have had to play the Denver Nuggets until the conference finals.

They would also have home-court advantage, though the home teams are 0-4 in this series. Maybe that part is a bonus.

Last time, the league fined Gobert $100K, partly due to his postgame comments in which he implied that his offensive foul was due to the influence of sports gambling on officiating. 

"I’ll be the bad guy. I’ll take the fine, but I think it’s hurting our game," Gobert told reporters after the game. "I know the betting and all that is becoming bigger and bigger, but it shouldn’t feel that way."

Jamal Murray received a $100K fine for throwing objects on the floor in Game 2, but avoided a suspension. For Gobert, he's been fined at least four times for criticizing officials and impugning their integrity, and a new rule in the NBA's CBA explains why he got the maximum fine of $100K.

Gobert won't be suspended, either, but the play calls his judgement into question. 

First, he's done the money sign after he committed obvious fouls. It seems to be a sign of frustration more than a moral stance against the evils of gambling. Second, he's done the money sign during games against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets, not exactly the large-market powerhouses the NBA supposedly favors.

In the end, the impact of the money sign will likely be that money leaves Gobert's bank account. He'll have a chance to make it back with a winner's share in the playoffs.