DENVER – When the Timberwolves made the trade for Rudy Gobert, their goal was to finish among the top four teams in the Western Conference and at least advance as far as the second round of the playoffs.
Their season stopped short of both of the goals in a 112-109 loss to Denver, who sent the Wolves packing with a 4-1 first-round playoff series win.
The Wolves were down three key contributors for the game in Kyle Anderson, Jaden McDaneils and Naz Reid, just as the Wolves rarely had everyone healthy for the entire season, especially Karl-Anthony Towns, who missed nearly four months because of a right calf strain.