By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Rudy Gobert is naturally looking for more of the same after the Minnesota Timberwolves opened a 1-0 lead in a best-of-seven series opposite the Los Angeles Lakers.
Following team practice on Monday, the 32-year-old French center talked about Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
“We don’t want to match the intensity. We want to bring the intensity. I think it’s about focusing on us. We know that. We know they’re going to be very physical. We don’t know which adjustment they’re going to make, but we know that they’re going to bring some physicality. It’s on us to bring that to them,” he stressed.
Opening the 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google, Gobert went for two points, six rebounds, one block, and one assist over 24 minutes.
“I get less opportunities to score, but all my teammates are getting wide open shots,” the Saint-Quentin native described being limited by the Lakers‘ defense, “This is the beauty of our team. We got a lot of different options, and they have to make decisions.”
Game 2 is set to be played in crypto.com Arena on Tuesday. Except for Rob Dillingham (right ankle sprain), the rest of the players, including Bosnian Luka Garza and Dutch Jesse Edwards, are healthy.
Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic and the Lakers aim to tie the series before moving to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. On the injury list, German Maxi Kleber (right foot surgery) will remain unavailable for head coach JJ Redick.