CNN
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Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch was helped off the court docket after a mid-game collision with level guard Mike Conley through the staff’s sport towards the Suns in Phoenix on Sunday.
Finch suffered a rupture to his proper patellar tendon – which connects the kneecap to the shinbone, a staff spokesperson instructed CNN.
The collision occurred with just below two minutes left within the sport. Conley was fouled by Suns guard Devin Booker as he was working up the court docket. Conley then collided with 54-year-old Finch, who was standing close to the scorer’s desk, knocking the coach to the bottom.
Timberwolves gamers surrounded Finch as he was helped up and assisted to the locker room by employees members.
Followers gave the coach a standing ovation as he left the court docket, and Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori completed the sport in his place.
The Timberwolves went on to win 122-116 to comb the Suns and advance to the second spherical of the NBA playoffs. It’s Minnesota’s first playoff collection win since 2004 and the franchises’ first-ever post-season sweep.
After the sport, Nori instructed reporters Finch took successful to his decrease leg.
“The entire staff went all the way down to the medical room and he’s clearly in nice spirits and so are the fellows,” Nori added.
Minnesota all-star guard Anthony Edwards instructed “Contained in the NBA” that he can be speeding to learn the way his coach was doing after speaking to reporters.
“That’s the coach of the yr and I hate to see him go down like that,” Edwards stated.
Finch, who’s in his fourth season because the staff’s head coach, completed third within the NBA’s Coach of the 12 months award voting earlier on Sunday. He led the Timberwolves to a 56-26 file, the second-best mark in franchise historical past.
