Timberwolves coach Chris Finch is helped off following a 4th-quarter collision with Mike Conley.
Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch is set to undergo surgery to repair a right patellar tendon tear he suffered in Game 4 of the first round, per multiple reports. Dave Campbell of The Associated Press reports the surgery will take place Wednesday.
Finch was hurt and helped off the court late in the fourth quarter Sunday night of that game vs. the Phoenix Suns after colliding with Wolves guard Mike Conley.
The surgery will leave Finch with only three days of recovery before Game 1 in Denver, and this type of procedure typically requires the leg to be immobilized for more time than that. He’ll need crutches for awhile, too.
ESPN Sources with @RamonaShelburne: Timberwolves coach Chris Finch will undergo surgery to repair a right Patellar tendon on Wednesday and it remains unclear whether he’ll be able to open conference semifinal series vs. Nuggets on the bench: https://t.co/iKsGwg3QR9
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 30, 2024
ESPN reports it is unclear whether Finch will be able to open the Western Conference semifinals series vs. the Denver Nuggets, which begins Saturday. If he can’t, ESPN reports assistant Micah Nori will coach Game 1 with Finch communicating to the bench from the locker room.
Following Minnesota’s 122-116 win and first-round series sweep of the Suns, the Timberwolves confirmed Finch’s injury.
Conley was trying to dribble down the sideline when he collided with Suns star Devin Booker and ran into Finch, who appeared to injure his right knee as Conley tried to brace their fall. Finch grimaced and immediately grabbed his right knee.
He was down for a few minutes, surrounded by Minnesota players, coaches and staff, before slowly getting up and being assisted off the court.
Nori directed the team for the final 1:41 and later said Finch was in the medical room getting checked out. The team went down to see him after the game.
“He’s obviously in good spirits and so are the guys,” Nori said.
THIS IS FOR YOU, COACH 🫶 pic.twitter.com/KOXL30aoBw
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) April 29, 2024
Conley said he didn’t see Finch until the last moment and tried to hold him up following the collision. The veteran guard couldn’t help but tell a joke or two at the coach’s expense after the Game 4 victory.
“I told him to sit his (butt) down — he shouldn’t be standing up like that late in the game,” Conley said. “He’s in the way. But prayers up for him, I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
