Star Timberwolves centre Rudy Gobert has been suspended for one game following his dust-up with teammate Kyle Anderson on Sunday in which he threw a punch at Anderson during a time-out.
Gobert will miss Minnesota’s play-in matchup against the Lakers on Tuesday night (local time),
“The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has suspended center Rudy Gobert for one game following yesterday’s incident,” the Timberwolves said in a statement.
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The 30-year-old Gobert was involved in a heated scuffle with Anderson, 29, during the Timberwolves’ 113-108 win over the Pelicans on Sunday.
Gobert, a three-time NBA All-Star, threw a swing at Anderson in the second quarter of the game, with Minnesota players immediately separating the two.
Anderson allegedly told Gobert to block shots while the latter implored Anderson to get a rebound, ESPN reported.
Tensions boiled over when Anderson told Gobert to “shut the f – k up, b – ch.”
Gobert was sent home after the scuffle and issued an apology on Twitter.
“Emotions got the best of me today. 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,” he tweeted.
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Though Gobert will miss Tuesday’s game, he is slated to return should the Timberwolves lose to the Lakers and partake in another play-in game, or advance to the postseason.
The winner of Tuesday’s contest between the Timberwolves and Lakers will face the No. 2 seed Grizzlies in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
The Timberwolves will be shorthanded in more ways than one Tuesday.
Minnesota lost forward Jaden McDaniels for the remainder of the year after he fractured his right hand punching a wall in frustration during Sunday’s game.
This story originally appeared on the NY Post and is reproduced with permission.
WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF PICTURE
Play-in games (AEST)
Wednesday April 12: No.8 Minnesota at No.7 LA Lakers (winner gets No.7 seed)
Thursday April 13: No.10 Oklahoma City at No.9 New Orleans
Saturday April 15: Oklahoma City/New Orleans winner at Minnesota/LA Lakers loser (winner gets No.8 seed)
Round 1 match-ups
No.1 Denver vs No.8 (winner of [Oklahoma City at New Orleans winner] at [Minnesota at LA Lakers loser])
No.2 Memphis vs No.7 (Minnesota at LA Lakers winner)
No.3 Sacramento vs No.6 Golden State
No.4 Phoenix vs No.5 LA Clippers
Playoffs begin Sunday April 16
EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF PICTURE (All seeds locked in
Play-in games
Wednesday April 12: No.8 Atlanta at No.7 Miami (winner gets No.7 seed)
Thursday April 13: No.10 Chicago at No.9 Toronto
Saturday April 15: Chicago/Toronto winner at Atlanta/Miami loser (winner gets No.8 seed)
Round 1 match-ups
No.1 Milwaukee vs No.8 (winner of [Chicago at Toronto winner] at [Atlanta at Miami loser])
No.2 Boston vs No.7 (Atlanta at Miami winner)
No.3 Philadelphia vs No.6 Brooklyn
No.4 Cleveland vs No.5 New York
Playoffs begin Sunday April 16
