Kia Defensive Player of the Year candidate Rudy Gobert helped limit the output of Nuggets star Nikola Jokic in Game 1.
Denver (AP) – The Minnesota Timberwolves were without center Rudy Gobert for Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the NBA champion Denver Nuggets on Monday night.
Gobert was back in Minneapolis, where his fiancée gave birth to the couple’s son early Monday.
Any plans to return him to Denver were hampered by high winds in Colorado.
“Certainly considered … but The timing of his circumstances and some weather made it very difficultWolves coach Chris Finch said. „We didn’t think he could come here and be ready to play.”
Cobert played a key role The Wolves won 106-99 In Game 1, Roaming the paint and denying Aaron Gordon his usual diet of alley-oop dunks.
A rotation of Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns and Nas Reed hounded Nikola Jokic, who committed an uncharacteristic seven turnovers and missed 14 shots in the opener.
Without Gobert, „Obviously Kyle (Anderson) will get some time,” Jokic said, Finch said. „Maybe we need to do things a little differently. But it all starts and ends with KAT first.
Jamaal Murray is listed as questionable for the Nuggets, but coach Michael Malone said he fully expects him to be in the starting lineup despite a strained left calf that has bothered him for more than a week.
The Wolves are healthy for their coach, who underwent surgery on his right knee after a sideline collision with point guard Mike Conley in Round 1 last week, watching the action from second-row seats on the Wolves’ bench. Assistant coach Micah Norrie instructs the players on the field and works with the officials.
„It was a little weird. The last time I was sitting on the second row, I was an assistant coach here in Denver,” Finch said. „But I enjoyed the experience quite a bit. To stay away from Malone’s anger.