DENVER (AP) — The Minneosta 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 the 10 p.m. EDT tipoff was scuttled by high winds in Colorado that disrupted air travel.
“There was definitely consideration ... but the timing of his circumstances plus some weather made it really tough,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said. “And we didn’t feel like he was going to be able to get here and be prepared to play.”
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.
Leg issue keeps IF Jake Cronenworth out of Padres' starting lineup
Ryan Weathers strikes out a career
Cops raid the owner of a pack of vicious wolf
The foods that cancer experts want you to stop eating
Trump to meet with Polish president Duda as NATO leaders call for additional support for Ukraine
Rose Byrne looks unrecognisable with a bleached blonde beehive wig on set of latest movie Tow
Royals at White Sox game has been postponed by rain
The foods that cancer experts want you to stop eating
'Holy mackerel... searing pain': Wildlife expert Coyote Peterson live