Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch will undergo surgery on Wednesday to repair a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee, suffering the injury after a collision with guard Mike Conley in Game 4 of their series against the Phoenix Suns.
The Minnesota Timberwolves' triumphant sweep of the Phoenix Suns in the NBA playoffs has been marred by the unfortunate news that head coach Chris Finch will likely miss their Western Conference semifinal series against the Denver Nuggets.
On Sunday night, during the fourth quarter of Game 4, Finch collided with guard Mike Conley and collapsed to the ground in visible pain. He was eventually helped off the court and carted out of the arena, raising concerns about the severity of his injury.
Sources confirmed to The Associated Press that Finch, 54, sustained a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee and will undergo surgery on Wednesday. This injury typically requires a lengthy rehabilitation period, casting doubt on his availability for the remainder of the playoffs.
With Finch sidelined, assistant coach Micah Nori is expected to take the reins of the Timberwolves when they face the Nuggets in Game 1 on Friday. Finch intends to communicate with Nori from the locker room if he's unable to coach from the sidelines.
Nori, who joined the Timberwolves staff in 2021 after serving as an assistant with the Toronto Raptors, brings a wealth of experience to the role. He was previously the head coach for the Raptors 905 in the NBA G League, where he led the team to a championship victory in 2017.
Finch's absence will be a significant loss for the Timberwolves, who have made significant strides under his leadership. In his third full season with the team, he finished third in the NBA Coach of the Year voting, boasting a 160-127 record.
Under Finch's guidance, the Timberwolves have reached the playoffs in each of his three full seasons, including this year's impressive sweep of the Phoenix Suns. He has compiled a 7-8 record in the postseason, demonstrating his ability to elevate the team's performance in crucial moments.
The Timberwolves will now face the Denver Nuggets, who defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 on Monday. Last year, the Nuggets eliminated Minnesota in the first round, going on to capture the NBA championship.
This year's matchup between the two teams is expected to be another hard-fought battle. The Nuggets boast reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, while the Timberwolves have a talented roster led by Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, and D'Angelo Russell.
Despite the adversity of losing their head coach, the Timberwolves remain optimistic and determined to make a deep playoff run. They will rely on the leadership of their players and the guidance of assistant coach Micah Nori in their quest for a Western Conference title.
