Who says the last day of the NBA regular season is boring?
With all 30 teams in action on Sunday for Game 82, many lineups are filled with unfamiliar faces as teams rest their stars for the postseason. There were, however, a few games that still held playoff-seeding implications, with a matchup between the Timberwolves and Pelicans being one of them.
Minnesota hosted New Orleans at the Target Center with a chance to jump up from the Nine-Ten Play-In Game to the Seven-Eight Play-In Game with a win, so long as a few other games shook out in its favor.
Tension was clearly high in a pivotal final game of the season, as tempers flared on the Timberwolves' bench during a timeout. Star center Rudy Gobert and his teammate Kyle Anderson were caught in a verbal argument on camera. During the heated exchange, Gobert swung at Anderson, punching his teammate in the chest.
Minnesota was able to get past the altercation, defeating the Pelicans to claim the No. 8 seed in the West. The win sets up a date with the Lakers in Los Angeles in the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday, April 11.
But what led to the argument between Gobert and Anderson, and how did the Timberwolves handle the situation? The Sporting News has you covered with the latest updates below.
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Why did Rudy Gobert punch Kyle Anderson?
Anderson and Gobert were seen yelling at each other on the sidelines during a Timberwolves timeout. As the argument developed, Gobert swung at his teammate, punching Anderson in the chest.
Oh my Rudy Gobert just threw a punch at his own teammate Kyle Anderson pic.twitter.com/6GP5wwkCqW
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) April 9, 2023
Gobert was separated from Anderson and immediately went to the locker room. Moments after, it was reported that the Timberwolves sent Gobert home for the physical altercation, leaving an important game with the Timberwolves trailing the Pelicans in the second quarter.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Anderson told Gobert to block some shots and Gobert fired back, telling Anderson to grab a rebound.
Anderson responded by telling Gobert to "shut the f— up, b—," causing Gobert to swing at his teammate.
The Athletic's Shams Charania added that the argument trickled into the locker room at halftime, with Anderson challenging Gobert by saying, "I'll knock your a— out."
After the game, veteran leader Mike Conley told the media that Gobert already texted the team to apologize.
"Stuff happens, honestly. Rudy will tell you first-hand he lost control and he'll apologize for it. He already sent a text to us," Conley said, according to Timberwolves beat writer Dane Moore.
What Rudy Gobert said after the game
Gobert was sent home, so he did not speak to the media. Instead, the star center took to Twitter to apologize for the situation.
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 organisation and particularly to Kyle, who is someone that i truly love and respect as a teammate.
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) April 10, 2023
What Kyle Anderson said after the game
"Tempers flared in the middle of a game we wanted to win — a huge one. It is what it is. S— happens," Anderson told the media.
He was also asked if he and Gobert can make up and play together moving forward.
"Ah, yeah. It is what it is and move forward. We want to win games. It is what it is. It ain't the first time someone has swung on me. It is what it is. We keep it in-house," Anderson said, according to Moore.
Timberwolves president Tim Connelly's statement
Timberwolves president of basketball operations, Connelly, issued a statement after the game.
"We made the decision to send Rudy Gobert home after the incident in the second quarter. His behavior on the bench was unacceptable and we will handle the situation internally."
Will Rudy Gobert be suspended for the Play-In Game?
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that Gobert has been suspended for the Timberwolves' Play-In Game against the Lakers. He will not travel with the team to Los Angeles.
The suspension will only last one game, meaning he will be available for Minnesota's second Play-In Game if it loses or first-round playoff series if it wins.
Revisiting the Rudy Gobert-Timberwolves trade
The Timberwolves acquired Gobert from the Jazz this offseason in a trade that has not exactly aged well.
Minnesota made an all-in move, giving up some young talent and a boatload of future draft assets to add the three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Timberwolves received:
- Rudy Gobert
Jazz received:
- Malik Beasley
- Patrick Beverley
- Leandro Bolmaro
- Walker Kessler (No. 22 pick in 2022 NBA Draft)
- Jarred Vanderbilt
- 2023 first-round pick
- 2025 first-round pick
- 2026 pick swap
- 2027 first-round pick
- 2029 first-round pick
While you can't quantify a player's defensive impact in a single stat, it's a rough sign for the Timberwolves that rookie center Kessler finished the season with more blocks (173) than Gobert this season (95).
Minnesota selected Kessler with the No. 22 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and the 21-year-old rim protector was the cornerstone of the deal that helped bring Gobert to the Timberwolves.
