Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch left the court late in the fourth quarter of Game 4 against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night after colliding with guard Mike Conley.
Following the Timberwolves’ 122-116 victory and first-round series sweep of the Suns, various news outlets confirmed Finch had ruptured his right patellar tendon.
Conley wanted to dribble down the sideline when he crashed into Phoenix’s Devin Booker and collided with Finch. Chris seemed to have injured his right knee as Conley tried to brace their fall. He grimaced and grabbed his right knee.
Finch was down for a few minutes, surrounded by Minnesota players, coaches and staff, before he slowly got up and was assisted off the court.
Assistant coach Micah Nori directed the team for the final 1:41. Nori said Finch was in the medical room getting checked out and that the team went down to see him after the match.
“He’s obviously in good spirits and so are the guys,” Nori said.
Conley said he didn’t see Finch until the last moment and tried to hold him up after the collision. The veteran guard told 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.”
