AP source: James Harden traded to Brooklyn Nets

Rudy Gobert fouled out of the Minnesota Timberwolves overtime loss at the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. When he was called for his sixth foul, Gobert flashed the “money” sign at the officials as he headed to the bench. The Wolves center was called for a technical foul, which helped the Cavs send the game to the extra period.

Following the game, Gobert didn’t let up in his criticism of the way sports betting may be influencing officials.

“I made some mistakes. I airballed a dunk. Mistakes happen. Referees make mistakes, too,” Gobert said. “But sometimes I think it’s more than mistakes. I think everyone that’s in this league knows. I think it’s got to get better.”

Gobert added that he’s willing to be the “bad guy again that speaks what I think is the truth.” He added that he thinks gambling is hurting the NBA.

“I think it’s hurting our game. I know the betting and all that is becoming bigger and bigger, but it shouldn’t feel that way,” Gobert said.

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone was not happy with his team’s effort in a blowout home loss to the New York Knicks. Malone also called out his team’s leaders by saying he needs them to be more vocal.

“Well, yeah, I mean like Russell Westbrook, he’s vocal — but we need more than Russell Westbrook,” Malone replied when asked about Westbrook’s leadership after the veteran guard addressed the team in a huddle. “I need Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, I need guys that have been here in that starting lineup to be vocal. And you know tonight we got embarrassed.

“We’re 16 games in and we’re talking about effort, we’re talking about toughness, we’re talking about physicality. … And regardless of who’s in, who’s out, who do we want to be as a team? So, yeah, leadership would be great, toughness would be great, physicality would be great, playing like you actually care would be great, and we didn’t do that tonight.”

For their part, Jokic and Murray didn’t disagree with their coach. Both said that the team has to be better. Jokic and Murray said the team’s focus wasn’t where it needed to be going into Monday’s game against the Knicks.