Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was ejected from their 108-105 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Monday night after checking Mark Williams in the air with his forearm as he went for a dunk.
Midway through the third quarter of the game at Target Center, Williams drove through the lane and began to get up for what should have been an easy dunk. He had a clear path to the rim, as Gobert was well out of the way to his right.
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But once Williams was in the air, Gobert stepped in and pierced Williams in the ribs with his forearm – which sent Williams off the track and toward the field.
Gobert seemed to know he had made a mistake, because he raised his finger to instantly take credit. But officials upgraded the foul to Flagrant 2 due to heavy contact with Williams’ ribs, leading to Gobert’s ejection.
Gobert had 15 points and eight rebounds coming out of the game. The 33-year-old entered Monday night averaging 11 points and 10.2 rebounds per game this season, his 12th in the league. He is in the first year of a new three-year, $109.5 million contract with the Timberwolves.
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Williams stayed in the contest after initially remaining on the floor, shaken after the foul, and he split his free throws. He also threw down a dunk right after the second free throw, which gave the Suns a two-point lead at the time.
The Timberwolves went on a 7-0 run and held the Suns scoreless for nearly three full minutes to bring the game within one point, thanks to a short bucket from Anthony Edwards. But that happened with just 8.9 seconds left. The Suns then made two free throws and came up with one last stop to escape with a three-point victory.
Williams led the Suns with 22 points and seven rebounds, and Collin Gillespie added 19 points. Dillon Brooks finished with 18 points. The win pushed the Suns to 14-10 on the season.
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Edwards had 40 points and shot 15 of 21 from the field to lead the Timberwolves. Julius Randle finished with 21 points and eight assists, and Bones Hyland added 14 points coming off the bench. The loss ended a five-game winning streak for the Timberwolves, who are now 15-9 on the year.
Minnesota will be back in action Friday night against the Golden State Warriors.
