TNT’s Reggie Miller criticizes referees on live TV for controversial technical foul on Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards

TNT announcer Reggie Miller didn’t hold back after a technical foul was called against Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards.

The sequence occurred in the third quarter of Game 1 of the second-round playoff series between the Timberwolves and the home team Denver Nuggets.

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With 1:15 left in the third quarter, Edwards got past the Nuggets’ Reggie Jackson and set up a layup with star Nikola Jokic near the basket.

After the play, Edwards turned and looked at Jackson.

The gaze continued for several seconds.

As a result, referee Courtney Kirkland hit Edwards with a technical foul.

The two-time NBA All-Star point guard opened his mouth in surprise at the call.

TNT’s Miller came to Edwards’ defense on the game broadcast.

“No, Courtney! I’m sorry!” exclaimed Miller. “We are in the second round of the playoffs. Emotions will always be high.”

Fellow TNT commentator Jamal Crawford chimed in and agreed with Miller’s opinion.

“This is horrible. You can’t celebrate someone for being a dog and so we called a coach to face us,” Crawford said.

Later in the game, Miller had an issue with Edwards getting a star coach, but not the Nuggets, Jamal Murray, for a finger gun celebration.

“You see what my problem with that is? Why isn’t it a provocative technical foul if you called a staring?” Miller asked. “Why isn’t this a technical foul on Jamal Murray?”

Edwards would have the last laugh in the Timberwolves’ 106-99 victory.

And the 22-year-old Edwards had an impressive performance, recording a career-high 43 points to go along with seven rebounds and three assists.

He’s coming off a 40-point performance to eliminate the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 of the first-round series.

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Edwards joins Kobe Bryant as the only two players with consecutive 40-point games at age 22 or younger in NBA postseason history, according to ESPN.

As for the rest of the Timberwolves, Naz Reid scored 14 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter.

Star Karl Anthony-Towns scored 20 points despite being in foul trouble.

Jokic scored 32 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, but had seven turnovers.

Murray scored 17 points but was scoreless in the first half.

Minnesota will play the Nuggets in Game 2 on Monday night.