Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert misses Game 2 for birth of son
Despite center Rudy Gobert’s absence, the Timberwolves still managed to defeat the Nuggets in Game 2 with a score of 106-80.
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DENVER (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves were without center Rudy Gobert for Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets on Monday night.
Gobert returned to Minneapolis, where his fiancee delivered their son early Monday.
Any thought of getting him back to Denver in time for tipoff was scuttled by high winds in Colorado that disrupted air travel. The Wolves won Game 2, 106-80, to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
The Wolves held Denver to an ugly 29-of-83 shooting night, and the most impressive thing about that was the absence Gobert, whose fingerprints were all over this masterpiece, Finch said after the game.
“Rudy has been instrumental in shaping the defensive culture here,” Finch stated. “His influence, presence, and the importance he places on defense have demonstrated how crucial it is, and the kind of success we can achieve when we execute it well. However, irrespective of who is on our side or not, we always play to win.”
Both Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards netted 27 points each, aiding the Wolves in their rise to a 6-0 playoff record. This gives them an opportunity to shut out the infuriated Nuggets with victories on Friday and Sunday night in Minneapolis.
Gobert played a crucial role in the Wolves’ 106-99 win in Game 1, roaming the paint and denying Aaron Gordon his usual diet of alley-oop dunks.
Nikola Jokic, the MVP favorite, was relentlessly pursued by a rotation of Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Naz Reid. This resulted in an uncharacteristic seven turnovers and 14 missed shots by Jokic in the opener.
Kyle Anderson replaced Gobert in the starting lineup and had eight assists and nine rebounds and Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker both scored 14.
Jamal Murray was listed as questionable for the Nuggets for Game 2 with a left calf injury. However, he played and had a difficult game. He finished with eight points on 3-for-18 shooting and threw a heat pack onto the court in frustration as Towns was about to score on a layup.
Murray, shooting 9 for 32 in this series, departed Ball Arena without speaking for the second consecutive game. His actions could potentially result in a fine from the NBA.
Aside from their coach, who had right knee surgery last week due to a sideline collision with point guard Mike Conley in Round 1, the Wolves are in good health. The coach is now observing the game from the second row of the Wolves’ bench. In the meantime, Assistant coach Micah Nori has been conveying directions to the players on the court and interacting with the officials.
Finch said, “It was slightly odd. The last time I was seated in the second row, I was serving as an assistant coach here in Denver. However, I somewhat enjoyed that experience. It allowed me to steer clear of Malone’s fury.”
