Minnesota Timberwolves middle Rudy Gobert will serve a one-game suspension after punching a teammate within the final sport of the common season.
Rudy Gobert, beginning middle from the Minnesota Timberwolves, exits the ground on the Goal Heart after he was kicked out of the sport by head coach Chris Finch after trying to punch teammate Kyle Anderson. (Picture: Getty)
The Timberwolves certified for the Western Convention Play-In Event after they completed the season in eighth place. On Tuesday night, the Timberwolves will meet the Los Angeles Lakers, who completed in seventh place, to find out the #7 seed within the Western Convention playoffs.
The loser of the Lakers and Timberwolves sport will meet the winner of the ninth-place versus Tenth-place sport to find out the #8 seed on Friday night.
The New Orleans Pelicans completed in ninth place and can host the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Wednesday night.
Gobert to Miss Play-In Event
Gobert and ahead Kyle Anderson had a dustup within the staff huddle throughout a timeout within the second quarter in opposition to the Pelicans on Sunday.
A vocal Anderson criticized Gobert’s protection, and Gobert chastised Anderson for not rebounding. Anderson referred to Gobert as a “bitch” a number of instances earlier than Gobert swung at his teammate. Though Gobert misplaced his mood, he tried to tug the punch and landed a blow on Anderson’s shoulder.
Head coach Chris Finch expelled Gobert from the sport. However Gobert and Anderson continued their spat within the locker room at halftime. At that time, staff president Tim Connelly stepped in and requested Gobert to go away the world and return to his house.
After the sport, Gobert apologized on social media. However the Timberwolves group nonetheless suspended him for one sport. Because of this, Gobert will sit out within the Play-In Event in opposition to the Lakers and received’t be current with the staff in Los Angeles.
Gobert Commerce a Bust?
The spat with Anderson capped off a irritating first yr in Minnesota for Gobert. He averaged 13.4 factors and 11.6 rebounds per sport this season whereas taking pictures 63.9% from the ground. The previous NBA Defensive Participant of the 12 months wasn’t as sharp on protection as he had been throughout his tenure with the Utah Jazz. He additionally didn’t wait lengthy earlier than he obtained beneath the pores and skin of teammates, which is a fame he developed in Salt Lake Metropolis.
Though Gobert emerged as one of many high defenders within the league, he had a thorny relationship along with his Jazz teammates. The abrasive Gobert divided the Jazz’s locker room final season due to a rift with former teammate Donovan Mitchell. The Jazz knew they couldn’t win a title with a fractured squad, so that they traded Mitchell and Gobert within the low season.
Contemplating that the Timberwolves gave up an enormous haul to accumulate Gobert in a commerce, he drew sharp criticism from beat writers and followers. The Timberwolves despatched 4 first-round picks, plus 5 further gamers to the Jazz in change for Gobert final summer season.
In 2021-22, the Timberwolves went 46-36 and completed in seventh place within the Western Convention. They received their first sport within the Play-In Event to safe the #7 seed, however have been knocked out of the opening spherical by the #2 Memphis Grizzlies. The addition of Gobert was purported to elevate the Timberwolves right into a championship contender. However they completed with a worse document this season at 42-40.
Lakers a Betting Favourite In opposition to T-Wolves
The Lakers opened as a -5.5 favourite in opposition to the Timberwolves within the Western Convention Play-In Event. The road jumped three factors after the Timberwolves introduced Gobert will miss one sport due to a suspension.
The short-handed Timberwolves are lacking one other starter from their entrance line. Ahead Jaden McDaniels fractured his hand on Sunday after he punched a wall whereas strolling to the locker room at halftime. The incident wasn’t associated to the Gobert/Anderson tussle.
McDaniels, in his third season out of Washington, averaged a career-best 12.1 factors and three.9 rebounds per sport. He additionally shot 39.8% from 3-point vary. He developed right into a dependable “3 and D” participant as one of many staff’s high defenders.
McDaniels was anticipated to defend LeBron James within the Play-In Event, whereas Gobert was supposed to maintain Lakers large man Anthony Davis in verify.
Veteran ahead Taurean Prince and second-year ahead Nathan Knight are anticipated to fill in for McDaniels and Gobert within the Play-In Event.
The Timberwolves are +30000 odds to win the 2022-23 NBA championship, in accordance with a current replace by DraftKings. They’re additionally +12000 odds to win the Western Convention title and advance to the NBA Finals.
DraftKings posted a “make the playoffs” prop wager, however the odds aren’t within the Timberwolves’ favor. They’re -300 odds to overlook the playoffs, and +235 odds to advance to the playoffs as both the #7 seed or #8 seed.
