Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has been integral to the team’s success in the 2024 NBA Playoffs. He is the anchor to their league-leading defense, cleaning up misses on the glass and providing an intimidating presence at the rim.
Without him on the floor, the Timberwolves are not the same team. While there were challenges in Round 1 against the Phoenix Suns with Gobert on the court, those don’t exist in Round 2. He will be going head-to-head with potential league MVP Nikola Jokic on a nightly basis.
However, the game plan for the Minnesota Timberwolves may have to change in Game 2 against the Nuggets. As shared on their official PR account on X, Rudy Gobert has been listed as questionable on the injury report for personal reasons.
Hopefully, everything is okay with Rudy Gobert. There have been no other reports about why he has been downgraded, as the matter is being kept private for now. Since it isn’t an injury, there is always a chance that whatever issues he is dealing with can be overcome by tip-off later tonight.
Not having Gobert in the lineup would be a huge obstacle for the Minnesota Timberwolves to overcome. He made his presence felt in the Game 1 upset, recording six points with 13 rebounds, three assists, one steal and three blocks.
Jokic still got his, as he scored 32 points with nine assists, eight rebounds and three steals. But, it was a matchup that Rudy Gobert more than held his own in, playing a part in Jokic turning the ball over seven times. The Timberwolves star also finished the game with a plus/minus ratio of +12, while Jokic was -12.
Should Gobert not be able to play, Minnesota would likely turn to Naz Reid or Kyle Anderson. Karl-Anthony Towns could move over to the center spot in that scenario or if the Timberwolves opt to go smaller and start Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
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