Rudy Gobert out for Minnesota Timberwolves' Monday matchup with Denver Nuggets
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Timberwolves center and Defensive Player of the Year finalist Rudy Gobert is out for Monday night's playoff matchup with the Denver Nuggets, the team said.
The Wolves said Gobert will miss game two of the conference semifinals series due to "personal reasons." Sources say he and his partner welcomed a baby Monday morning.
The Wolves lead the series 1-0 after beating the Nuggets 106-99 on Saturday. Gobert had 6 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks in game one.
In the Wolves' first round sweep of the Phoenix Suns, Gobert averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds across four games. He also shot 88% from the free throw line, well above his career average of 66%.
Gobert, Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid is likely to see increased playing time. Reid has scored in the double digits in three of the Wolves' five games so far this postseason. In game one against the Nuggets, he was mostly quiet until the fourth quarter, when he exploded for 14 of his 16 points on the night.