By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Minnesota Timberwolves lost two starters just before the play-ins with Rudy Gobert being sent home for swinging his punch at teammate Kyle Anderson and Jaden McDaniels fracturing his right hand, per multiple reports.
Gobert and Kyle Anderson had a verbal altercation during a timeout in the second quarter of the crucial game against the Pelicans, which Minessota finally won 113-108.
However, Gobert stepped over Timberwolves coach Chris Finch and then swung at Anderson, appearing to hit him in the chest.
Teammates went to separate the two and ultimately Gobert left the game.
“We made the decision to send Rudy Gobert home after the incident in the second quarter,” Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said in a statement after the game. “His behavior on the bench was unacceptable and we will handle the situation internally.”
Per Adrian Wojnarowski, Gobert later sent an apologetic text to teammates in a group chat, according to his teammate Mike Conley. “We’ll speak about it and move on,” he said. “We’re grown men.”
A bit later, Gobert himself apologized publicly on social media.
Meanwhile, McDaniels exited the game late in the first quarter after injuring his right hand. McDaniels punched a wall while walking into the tunnel and this move may have aggravated his injury, which will keep him out indefinitely.
The winner of the Wolves’ play-in game vs. the Lakers will face the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs. The loser will play the winner of the second play-in matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Oklahoma City Thunder for the right to play the No. 1 seed Denver Nuggets.