Game 3 between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves was chaotic in more ways than one. Not only did the Lakers lose 116-104 and fall behind 2-1 in the series, but their star guard Luka Doncic and several teammates pointed to an unusual disruption: fans blowing whistles from the stands during critical moments.
Early in the fourth quarter, with the Lakers trailing by just four points, a pivotal play unfolded. Rui Hachimura lost the ball, and Jaden McDaniels took off down the court for what could have been a momentum-changing transition score for either side.
Luka Doncic was right there to contest until he suddenly stopped at midcourt. McDaniels coasted in for an easy dunk. As it turned out, Doncic heard a whistle and thought play had been stopped. But the whistle did not come from the referees, it came from the crowd.
This was the play where it was pretty apparent that Luka heard a whistle. Jordan Goodwin says he heard one three or four times. pic.twitter.com/yTAEmtenFB
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) April 26, 2025
Coach JJ Redick was visibly furious, calling a timeout and storming onto the court to speak to the officials. Shortly after, the Target Center’s public address announcer warned the fans that anyone caught using a whistle would be ejected immediately.
This was not an isolated incident either. Lakers guard Jordan Goodwin said he heard a whistle at least three or four different times during the second half, and even LeBron James reportedly paused on one play because of the confusing noise. With the game hanging in the balance, every possession mattered, and any moment of hesitation, especially caused by something external, could shift momentum.
Retweet to make this go viral. pic.twitter.com/vFs1sLTlHS
— Kyle Theige (@KyleTheige) April 26, 2025
The NBA’s official fan code of conduct explicitly bans whistles inside arenas because of their potential to disrupt games, so the Timberwolves and arena officials are likely to be on high alert for Game 4. The incident certainly left a bitter taste for the Lakers, especially on a night when nothing seemed to go their way.
Of course, the whistles were not the only reason for the Lakers’ defeat. Turnovers played a massive role, L.A. committed 19 turnovers, leading to 28 points for Minnesota. The Lakers also struggled to score down the stretch, closing the game on the wrong end of a 13-1 Timberwolves run.
Luka Doncic’s performance was another major storyline. Battling a stomach virus, Doncic was clearly not himself, scoring just 17 points on 6-for-16 shooting and looking visibly drained throughout the game. Coach Redick confirmed that Luka had been vomiting all afternoon and barely slept the night before.
Still, LeBron James turned back the clock with a masterful 38-point outing, doing everything he could to keep the Lakers afloat. But the combination of turnovers, missed free throws, an ailing Doncic, and the bizarre whistle interference was too much for Los Angeles to overcome.
With a must-win Game 4 looming on Sunday afternoon, the Lakers will hope for a healthier Doncic and a whistle-free environment as they try to even the series and regain control of their playoff destiny.
