The Minnesota Timberwolves swept the Phoenix Suns over the weekend to advance to the Western Conference semifinals. However, they will likely be without head coach Chris Finch, who suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee after colliding with Timberwolves guard Mike Conley during Game 4. Finch, 54, is set to undergo surgery to repair the tendon just days before the Timberwolves face the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 on Friday. Assistant coach Micah Nori is expected to lead the team in Finch’s absence, with Finch potentially communicating with Nori from the locker room if he is unable to coach on the sideline.
Following the collision with Conley, Finch remained on the ground in pain and had to be helped off the court before being carted out of the arena. Despite the injury, Finch has been a successful coach for the Timberwolves, finishing third in the NBA Coach of the Year voting and leading the team to a 160-127 record in three-plus years. He has also guided the team to a 7-8 record in the playoffs, reaching the postseason in each of his three full seasons with the Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves will now face the defending NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets, in the Western Conference semifinals. Denver advanced after beating the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 on Monday. Last year, the Nuggets defeated the Timberwolves in five games in the first round, which sparked their championship run. It will be a challenging matchup for the Timberwolves as they look to overcome the absence of their head coach and make a push for the conference finals.
Despite the setback of losing Finch to injury, the Timberwolves are determined to continue their playoff push and take on the Nuggets in the next round. With assistant coach Micah Nori expected to lead the team in Finch’s absence, the Timberwolves will need to rally together as they face a tough opponent in the defending champions. The team will have to rely on their depth, resilience, and strategic execution to compete at a high level and make a push for the Western Conference finals.
In the midst of the playoff excitement, the Timberwolves are dealing with the news of Finch’s injury and the uncertainty surrounding his availability for the upcoming series. As Finch undergoes surgery to repair his ruptured patellar tendon, the team will have to adjust and adapt to the new coaching situation. It will be a test of their mental toughness and ability to overcome adversity as they prepare to take on the Nuggets in a critical playoff matchup. The Timberwolves will look to stay focused, united, and determined as they aim to advance further in the postseason and compete for a shot at the NBA championship.
