Non-existent against Joel Embiid on Tuesday evening, to the point of being limited to 25 minutes of play (6 points, 9 rebounds) and seeing his team lose (94-117) without being able to influence the match, Rudy Gobert replied Friday night by delivering one of his biggest games for the Minnesota Timberwolves, which he joined last summer.
At home, against the Brooklyn Nets, the French international pivot split 26 points (12 out of 15 shooting) for 13 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals (1 against) which were however not enough for the win (123-124, ap).
Naz Reid snatches extra time
In difficulty against the Nets carried by Spencer Dinwiddie (29 points, 11 assists) and Mikal Bridges (34 points), transferred in February from Dallas and Phoenix, the Wolves had snatched five additional minutes of play on a small miracle signed Naz Reid: the pivot, usual substitute for Gobert, had been the only player found on a throw-in to send a three-point shot at the buzzer. His only basket of the game (3 points).
If they present a balanced balance sheet in the West (34v-34d), the Wolves are part of the franchises in full loss of momentum when there are only about fifteen matches left in order to secure a qualifying place for the play- in (from 7th to 10th place), or for the play-offs (1st to 6th). Gobert and his family have an appointment in Atlanta on Monday.
In the East, the Nets cling to sixth place (38v-29d) and have a short break ahead of the Miami Heat (36v-32d). Above all, they have just won four of their last five matches, proof that the departures of Kyrie Irving (Dallas) and Kevin Durant (Phoenix, now injured in the ankle) have not shattered the momentum of the franchise, nor its hopes. to do well at the end of the season.
