By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A few hours before tipoff in Ball Arena, the Minnesota Timberwolves listed Rudy Gobert as questionable to play in Game 2 of a best-of-seven series against the Denver Nuggets.
The uncertain status is attached to personal reasons. Updating his status before the second meeting with the reigning NBA champions in the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2024 NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel, the Wolves did not share further details.
Gobert, 31, contributed six points, 13 rebounds, three blocks, three assists, and one steal over 35 minutes on the latest edition of NBA Saturdays for a 1-0 lead in the series. In the opening round of his eighth postseason campaing in the league based in North America, the starting center for the team coached by Chris Finch was coming off 15.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per contest in a four-game sweep of the Phoenix Suns.
The three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year has been vocal on reaching further stages of the Playoffs. Over six appearances with the Utah Jazz, his efforts were limited to advancing to the Conference Semifinals twice. Exits from the first round marked remaining expeditions, including the Timberwolves falling to the Nuggets in five games in 2023.
Besides Gobert, all remaining players are available for the team based in Minneapolis. On the opposite end, Slovenian Vlatko Cancar (left knee surgery) has been sidelined by the Nuggets across the 2023-24 season and Jamal Murray (left calf strain) is listed as questionable.