Is Rudy Gobert playing tonight? Latest injury update Thunder @ Timberwolves

Here we go, the Minnesota Timberwolves face a must-win contest once more. It’s time to focus exclusively on Game 3 of the NBA Play-in Tournament. For the NBA Western Conference, it’s the Oklahoma City Thunder (1-0) traveling to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves (0-1) at Target Center. The loser is denied a chance to compete for a berth in the NBA Playoffs this season. The winner advances to face the best in the west, the Denver Nuggets.

For the Timberwolves, there is a great deal of pressure to win this one. While the Oklahoma City Thunder are very talented, their team is quite young and has an amazing future ahead of them. For the Timberwolves, a team that converted much of their youthful future promise to present-day deliverables, the team needs a win simply to validate the costly acquisition of center Rudy Gobert for five players and four first-round draft picks.

But it’s unfair to try and assess that trade at this point in time. For starters, the Timberwolves will convey four draft picks that may or may not translate into valued players for the Utah Jazz. But more importantly, the Timberwolves’ 2022-23 NBA season was fraught with injuries, and it’s more likely that Rudy Gobert’s presence on this team has helped the Timberwolves to get this far. Speaking of Gobert, he is listed right now as questionable with back spasms.  So what is the current injury report status of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves for Game 3 of the NBA Play-In Tournament?

Rudy Gobert’s injury status tonight vs Thunder:

Center Rudy Gobert has been fighting through back spasms since the last game of the 2022-23 NBA season against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 9, 2023. Since Game 3 of the NBA Play-In Tournament is scheduled for Friday, April 14, 2023, there is optimism that Gobert will not only be able to suit up but can give a solid performance in this one:

Gobert is undeniably the Timberwolves’ front-office response to what the team undoubtedly observed in the NBA Playoffs last season. In short, the team’s offense and defense hinged on Karl-Anthony Towns.  With Gobert back in the lineup, the team hopes to upgrade rim defense as well as keep Towns fresh on the offensive half of the basketball court.

Rudy Gobert injury history:

Minnesota Timberwolves starting center Rudy Gobert may be a seasoned veteran, but he has been rather dependable in terms of suiting up this season. In fact, of 82 games, he competed in and started in 70 contests, which is slightly higher than his 68 games per season average.

Because Gobert has avoided severe injuries, he has managed to remain one of the best NBA centers throughout his career. Now the Timberwolves hope to cash in on his proficiency.

NBA Injury Report

The Minnesota Timberwolves are not the only team with players out in this one. The Oklahoma City Thunder have a few players who will not suit up as well:

Full Thunder injury report vs Timberwolves

1. PF Chet Holmgren        Out                    Foot
2. SF Kenrich Williams      Out                    Knee
3. F Aleksej Pokusevski    Out                    Wrist

Full Timberwolves injury report vs Thunder

1. Naz Reid                         Out                      Wrist
2. Jaden McDaniels          Out                      Hand
3. Rudy Gobert                  Questionable    Back
4. Jaylen Nowell                Questionable    Knee
5. Karl-Anthony Towns   Questionable    Calf
6. Anthony Edwards         Will play             Shoulder/neck

The Timberwolves have some concerns over the health of shooting guard Anthony Edwards, who appeared to take a hard fall on his shoulder and neck in the game against the Lakers on Monday night. But as of today, there are no reports of lingering injuries:

The Timberwolves will need everything Anthony Edwards has in him in this one.

How much of a difference can Rudy Gobert make in Game 3? He would have helped the Timberwolves over the Lakers had he played in Game 1. Instead, he had to cheer on his teammates from home.

That should serve as incredible motivation to show up in a big way for this game. If so, the Timberwolves may advance to the NBA Playoffs. If not, well that’s a lot of time to second-guess off-season moves.