Why Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert Didn’t Play Game 2 vs. Nuggets; Will He Play Game 3?

The Minnesota Timberwolves played Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets on Monday. The Timberwolves were without Rudy Gobert, who was absent due to the birth of his son in Minneapolis.

Despite Gobert’s absence, the Timberwolves won Game 2, 106-80, and took a 2-0 lead in the series. Minnesota held Denver to an ugly 29-83 shooting night, which was impressive given Gobert’s absence.

“When you don’t got the Defensive Player of the Year, you gotta step your game up,” Karl-Anthony Towns said regarding playing without Gobert. “We understood the challenge. We just wanted to come here and find a way to win the game.”

According to NBA insider Shams Charania, Gobert attempted to fly to Denver in time for the game, but intense winds prevented him from being able to do so.

“[Rudy Gobert] tried to fly throughout the day yesterday, but weather conditions in Denver, also in Minnesota, supposedly it was super windy in Denver, flights were being delayed… Everyone obviously expects him to play in Game 3.”

Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards both scored 27 points as the Wolves improved to 6-0 in the playoffs and gave themselves a chance to close out the Nuggets with wins Friday night and Sunday in Minneapolis. Without Gobert, the Timberwolves still embraced the defensive identity their defensive anchor helped establish.

“Rudy’s driven the defensive culture here. I think it’s a testament to his impact, his presence and what he’s infused into the team of how important defense is and how great it can be when we play it,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said after the game. “That aside, we expect to win no matter who’s with us and who’s not.”

Gobert played a crucial role in the Timberwolves’ 106-99 win in Game 1, roaming the paint and denying Aaron Gordon his usual diet of alley-oop dunks. A rotation of Gobert, Towns, and Naz Reid also hounded Nikola Jokic, the MVP favorite who committed an uncharacteristic seven turnovers and missed 14 shots in the opener.

Kyle Anderson replaced Gobert in the starting lineup and had eight assists and nine rebounds, and Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 14.