Game 3 of the first-round playoff series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers was already intense, but an unusual distraction from the stands added an unexpected layer of controversy.
A Timberwolves fan, armed with a whistle, repeatedly disrupted the game by mimicking the sound of the referees’ whistle, causing confusion among players on both sides. The antics, which occurred several times during the second half, became a focal point of the game and left the Lakers visibly frustrated.
The most notable instance came in the fourth quarter, with the Timberwolves holding a narrow lead. Lakers star Luka Dončić, chasing down Jaden McDaniels on a fast break, suddenly stopped mid-play, believing he had heard a whistle from the officials. McDaniels capitalized on the moment, scoring an uncontested dunk that extended Minnesota’s lead. The Lakers’ bench erupted in protest, but the damage was done.
If you’re wondering why Luka didn’t guard McDaniels here, Timberwolves fan blew a whistle several times tonight to confuse players, this was one of the times pic.twitter.com/Wdvx9IKsPc
— Tedd Buddwell 🏀🏈 (@TedBuddy8) April 26, 2025
Watching this live, I was very confused at what Luka was doing but now it makes sense
The Wolves allowed a fan to blow his whistle till the Lakers complained https://t.co/Xsm2uvG4Dl pic.twitter.com/186ssTkRGB
— jimmy changa ✌️ (@sultanwaystar) April 26, 2025
The public address announcer eventually intervened, warning that any fan caught using a whistle would be removed from the arena. Despite the announcement, Lakers players, including Jordan Goodwin, reported hearing the disruptive whistle multiple times throughout the game.
“It’s frustrating,” Goodwin said postgame. “You’re trying to stay locked in, but things like that throw you off.”
The Timberwolves, however, maintained their composure and delivered a strong performance. Anthony Edwards scored 29 points and Jaden McDaniels scored 30 points, leading Minnesota to a 116-104 victory and a 2-1 series lead. LeBron James did his best to keep the Lakers in the game, finishing with 38 points and 10 rebounds.
The incident has sparked debate among fans and analysts, with some calling for stricter enforcement of the NBA’s fan code of conduct. Whistles are explicitly prohibited in arenas due to their potential to disrupt gameplay, and the league may investigate the matter further.
As the series heads to Game 4, the Lakers will need to regroup and focus on the task at hand. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves will look to build on their momentum and take a commanding lead in the series.
