What Rudy Gobert’s suspension means for play-in tournament

The next block in the road between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the NBA Playoffs is the Los Angeles Lakers. The two Western Conference rivals will meet in the seven-eight matchup of the play-in tournament on Tuesday evening. But when the game tips off, Minnesota will be without Rudy Gobert.

After his ill-advised punch on Kyle Anderson Sunday afternoon, Gobert received a formal suspension. He did not travel with the team to Los Angeles on Monday. There is much to consider when discussing the long-term ramifications of Gobert’s actions, and no one knows what this may mean about his future with the team.

But the more important fallout from this whole situation is that the Timberwolves’ starting center will be absent when the team gears up for their most important game of the entire season. A win at Crypto.com Arena would send Minnesota to the playoffs and set up a rematch with the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies. A loss would put them at risk of their season ending on Friday.

How long is Rudy Gobert suspended?

It is important to note that Gobert’s suspension will be for just one game. After he sits out against the Lakers, he will be eligible to participate in Minnesota’s next game. Whether the Timberwolves lose in Los Angeles and face a second play-in game, or if they are victorious and head for a seven-game first round playoff series, Gobert will be available to play once again.

Also of note is the fact that the suspension was handed down by the Timberwolves organization, not the NBA. Minnesota President Tim Connelly voiced that Gobert’s actions were “unacceptable” and that they would handle the situation internally. This was a strategic move that both ensured the league did not step in as well as prevented the Timberwolves’ season from ending without Gobert on the floor.

How will the Timberwolves fare vs Lakers without Gobert?

It goes without saying that Minnesota will have a tougher go at it on Tuesday night without their starting center. Already down Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels, the loss of Rudy Gobert means the Timberwolves’ rotation will be ultra thin as they look to pull off an improbable win against a Lakers team that has the best record in the Western Conference since the trade deadline at 18-9.

With Gobert out, Anthony Davis will have more of an opportunity to feast on the interior and grab rebounds at will. The Wolves will need a massive performance from Karl-Anthony Towns and will likely need to look further down the bench than usual to have any chance of controlling the boards. Gobert’s presence as a rim protector will be sorely missed as well against the Laker guards.

Weirdly enough, the Timberwolves have a better record without Rudy Gobert (8-4) than with him (34-36) this season, albeit on a much smaller sample size. There is no logical reason to think this trend will continue on Tuesday evening. The only way Minnesota will have a realistic chance to emerge from Los Angeles with a win is if they can get some of the best performances of the season from their stars.