Minneapolis, Minnesota – Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch is facing a setback as he prepares for surgery to repair a right patellar tendon. The surgery, scheduled for Wednesday, raises doubts about Finch’s availability to lead the team in the Western Conference semifinals against the Denver Nuggets.
Sources close to the situation revealed that in the initial stages of his recovery, Finch will be required to have his right leg immobilized in a brace. If Finch is unable to coach from the sidelines at the start of the series, assistant Micah Nori will step in to lead the team in Game 1 on Saturday. Despite this potential limitation, Finch is expected to offer guidance to the team from the locker room.
Barring any unforeseen complications from the procedure, Finch, who recently placed third in the NBA’s Coach of the Year voting, is anticipated to join the team as they travel to Denver on Friday. The importance of Finch’s presence and leadership cannot be understated as the Timberwolves face off against the defending champion Nuggets, who hold the second seed in the Western Conference, while the Timberwolves are seeded third.
The injury that has sidelined Finch occurred during a thrilling Game 4 victory against the Phoenix Suns, as Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. accidentally collided with his coach while dribbling down the sideline. Despite this setback, Finch has been instrumental in leading the Timberwolves to their best regular-season record in years, with 56 wins and 26 losses, and securing their first playoff series victory in two decades.
Nori, who will likely take over coaching duties in Finch’s absence, has worked alongside Finch for the past three seasons in Minnesota. With experience at various NBA teams, including the Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings, and Toronto Raptors, Nori brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Timberwolves during this critical juncture. As the team navigates through Finch’s recovery and potential absence, they will rely on Nori’s leadership and guidance to continue their playoff journey.