The Minnesota Timberwolves swept the Phoenix Suns in their first-round matchup in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, setting up a huge matchup with the defending champion Denver Nuggets in the second round. It is one of the biggest series the NBA will have this postseason and will present some unexpected challenges for the Timberwolves.
Their head coach, Chris Finch, suffered a devastating injury in Game 4 against the Suns. He was in a collision with point guard Mike Conley Jr., who was fouled by Devin Booker late in the game.
The collision led to Finch tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee and surgery was required. Finch underwent the operation on Wednesday and things are trending in the right direction for him to be with the team when their series starts in Denver.
Where Finch will be stationed during the game, however, remains up in the air. Because he needs to keep his leg extended, the Timberwolves are trying to make accommodations to see if he can safely be on the sideline with the team.
That is easier said than done given how cramped the bench area in the NBA can be. There are players, coaches, members of the training staff and fans all present, making for some challenges to keep Finch safe.
If that doesn’t work, Finch will likely have to watch from a suite above the court and meet with the team in the locker room pre-game and at halftime. He is hoping that isn’t what has to happen.
“In typical Finchy fashion, he’s like, ‘I don’t want to sit there and send text messages to somebody behind the bench,'” assistant coach Micah Nori said. If Finch isn’t on the sidelines, it will be Nori handling things on the court as he did to finish out Game 4.
Game 1 is set to be played on May 4th in Denver. The start time is still TBD, as the NBA has to wait to see how the other playoff games unfold before knowing when the Timberwolves and Nuggets will tip-off.
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