Rudy Gobert’s team suspension for Play-In vs. Lakers

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert will miss Minnesota’s opener in the AT&T Play-In Tournament after being suspended for one game, the team announced Monday. Gobert is available if the Wolves lose to the Play-In Lakers or advance to the Western Conference Playoffs.

NEWS: Minnesota @Timberwolves today announced that the team has suspended center Rudy Gobert for one game following yesterday’s incident.

Full release: https://t.co/YFuVmjTvhO

— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) April 10, 2023

It’s a one-game suspension for Gobert, sources say @TheAthletic https://t.co/WT38HBfC9f

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) April 10, 2023

Gobert is suspended for one game and is expected to return if the Wolves lose to the Lakers and play another game or advance to the Western Conference playoffs, sources said. https://t.co/JMSdwm7P2o

– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 10, 2023

Gobert threw a dunk to teammate Kyle Anderson during a timeout in the second quarter Sunday against New Orleans. He raised his hand toward Anderson and appeared to punch him in the chest while the team was scrambling during a timeout. The coaches and players separated them and Gobert was escorted to the locker room.

“I think tempers flared,” Anderson said afterward. “That’s all.”

Anderson said he didn’t think they would have trouble getting along moving forward.

“We want to win games. It is what it is. It’s not the first time someone has taken a swing at me,” he said.

I was overcome with emotion today. I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did. I want to apologize to the fans, the organization, and especially Kyle, who I truly love and respect as a teammate.

— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) April 10, 2023

Director of basketball operations Tim Connelly issued a statement confirming the Timberwolves decided to send Gobert home after the second-quarter fumble:

“We made the decision to send Rudy Gobert home following the incident in the second quarter. His behavior on the bench was unacceptable and we will continue to address the situation internally.

The Wolves defeated the Pelicans 113-108 to finish eighth in the Western Conference and tied with the Los Angeles Lakers to move ahead of New Orleans in the standings. They fell to a loss and a lower seed with a lackluster first half.

After Anthony Edwards settled for a go-ahead 3-pointer, the Pelicans raced down the other end on Brandon Ingram’s dunk to take a 48-36 lead, prompting Wolves coach Chris Finch to call a timeout with 4:23 left in the half. .

Anderson, a fiery but respected leader who has given the Wolves a big boost with his versatility and experience in his first season with the team, had a heated exchange with Gobert about one of the many episodes that have gone wrong so far.

Gobert then ended the altercation by raising his hand to slap Anderson before they separated and Gobert was taken back to the locker room.

Rudy Gobert is OUT for the remainder of tonight’s game.

— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) April 9, 2023

The Wolves announced at halftime that Gobert and defensive ace Jaden McDaniels would not play the rest of the way. It turned out McDaniels had slammed his hand against the wall in the locker room tunnel in frustration in the first quarter and didn’t come back.

This report uses information from the Associated Press.