Woj: Rudy Gobert's Status for Wolves-Lakers Play-In Game TBD After Punching Anderson

The Minnesota Timberwolves might be down a starter during Tuesday's play-in round against the Los Angeles Lakers after Rudy Gobert hit teammate Kyle Anderson during the final game of the regular season.

Gobert swung at Anderson in a heated timeout discussion during Minnesota's 113-108 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.

The incident leaves Gobert's availability for the play-in round on Tuesday "very much in the air," according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Timberwolves will also be missing Jaden McDaniels, who is out for the season after punching a wall during the game and fracturing his hand.

McDaniels, who had an All-Defensive team-worthy breakout season, broke his hand while lashing out in frustration on his way into the locker room at halftime, minutes after the altercation between Gobert and Anderson.

"I'm told that the back and forth was about, first, Anderson telling Rudy Gobert, 'Hey, why don't you block some shots,' Gobert telling him, 'Why don't you grab a rebound,'" Wojnarowski said on ESPN's NBA Countdown.

"It escalated from there until Rudy Gobert threw a punch," Wojnarowski said.

Anderson told Gobert at halftime after the altercation, "I'll knock your ass out," according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.

The Timberwolves sent Gobert home after the incident. Gobert apologized in a team group chat after leaving, Minnesota point guard Mike Conley told reporters.

"We'll speak about it and move on," Conley said. "We're grown men."

In a statement after the game, Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly called Gobert's behavior "unacceptable" and said the Timberwolves will "handle the situation internally."

Sunday's win over the Pelicans marked the most deflating Timberwolves victory of the season. Combining the loss of a breakout defensive powerhouse in McDaniels with potential missed time for Gobert, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, could put a significant dent in Minnesota's hopes of limiting LeBron James and Anthony Davis enough to make it out of the upcoming play-in round.