If any of the referees gets a reprimand or some demerits over Gary Payton's vanishing technical foul in the Timberwolves' game Tuesday against the Seattle SuperSonics, the Wolves aren't likely to know about it.

The NBA can make the CIA and KGB seem like open books when it comes to referee reviews. Besides, there is nothing the league could do that would benefit the Wolves or make up for the 97-83 loss.

Wolves coach Flip Saunders said the team called the league office Wednesday but was told the videotape had not yet been reviewed. Late in the first quarter, referee Michael Smith called technical fouls on Payton and Wolves guard Anthony Peeler, then claimed not to have called one on Payton after realizing the Sonics guard -- who had been whistled for a technical earlier -- would automatically be ejected.

After the game, crew chief Tom Washington contended Smith never assessed twin technicals. Smith apparently told Saunders the same thing during the game.

"The disappointing thing is, as a referee, all you really have is your word," Saunders said. "When a referee comes to you and lies to you and says, 'I didn't call a double technical,' and you can look on ESPN . . . Everybody's got cable TV. They can see what the referee did and what was said. I was more irate at that situation. He was managing the game at that point."