The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets, 106-80, in Game 2 despite the absence of center Rudy Gobert.
DENVER (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves were without center Rudy Gobert for Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets on Monday night.
Gobert was back in Minneapolis, where his fiancee gave birth to the couple’s son early Monday.
Any thought of getting him back to Denver in time for tipoff was scuttled by high winds in Colorado that disrupted air travel. The Wolves won Game 2, 106-80, to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
The Wolves held Denver to an ugly 29-of-83 shooting night, and the most impressive thing about that was the absence Gobert, whose fingerprints were all over this masterpiece, Finch said after the game.
“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,” Finch said. “That aside, we expect to win no matter who’s with us and who’s not.”
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 fuming Nuggets with wins Friday night and Sunday in Minneapolis.
Gobert played a crucial role in the Wolves’ 106-99 win 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 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 both scored 14.
Jamal Murray was listed as questionable for the Nuggets for Game 2 with a left calf injury. However, he played and had a difficult game. He finished with eight points on 3-for-18 shooting and threw a heat pack onto the court in frustration as Towns was about to score on a layup.
Murray, who has shot 9 for 32 in this series, left Ball Arena without comment for the second straight game. He is likely to be fined by the NBA for his actions.
The Wolves are healthy save for their coach, who underwent right knee surgery last week after a sideline collision with point guard Mike Conley in Round 1 and is watching the action from a second row of seats on the Wolves’ bench. Assistant coach Micah Nori has been the one relaying instructions to players on the court and working the officials.
“It was a little weird. Last time I sat in the second row I was an assistant coach here in Denver,” Finch said. “But I kind of enjoyed that experience a little bit. Got to stay out of the way of Malone’s wrath.”
