Timberwolves suspend Rudy Gobert for play-in game vs. Lakers - Los Angeles Times
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Timberwolves suspend Rudy Gobert for play-in game vs. Lakers

Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert defends Lakers forward Anthony Davis as he attempts a shot.
Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, defending Lakers forward Anthony Davis, has been suspended for the play-in game Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena.
(David Berding / Getty Images)
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The Minnesota Timberwolves have suspended three-time defensive player of the year Rudy Gobert for Tuesday’s play-in tournament game with against the Lakers.

The team announced the decision Monday, one day after Gobert punched teammate Kyle Anderson on the bench during a game against New Orleans on Sunday.

“Emotions got the best of me today,” Gobert tweeted Sunday. “I should not have reacted the way i did regardless of what was said. I wanna apologize to the fans, the [organization] and particularly to Kyle, who is someone that i truly love and respect as a teammate.”

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Minnesota also will be without wing Jaden McDaniels after he broke his hand punching a wall during the game against the Pelicans.

Remarkably after both the Gobert and McDaniels incidents, Minnesota came back to beat the Pelicans to ensure their spot in Tuesday’s play-in game against the Lakers.

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Gobert averaged 13.4 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in his first season with the Timberwolves.

LeBron James makes eight three-pointers in season-ending win for Lakers, who earn seventh seed for the play-in tournament vs. Minnesota on Tuesday.

April 9, 2023

McDaniels scored 12.1 points per game in his third season on 39.8% shooting from three-point range while blossoming into one of the NBA’s top defenders.

The winner of the Lakers-Timberwolves game will face No. 2-seeded Memphis in the first round of the NBA playoffs beginning Sunday. The loser will face the winner of New Orleans-Oklahoma City on Friday, with the winner getting to face No. 1 Denver in the playoffs.

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