Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch holds his knee after colliding with Timberwolves guard Mike Conley during the second half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Phoenix. The Timberwolves won 122-116, taking the series 4-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
PHOENIX — Minnesota coach Chris Finch has a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee after a collision with Timberwolves guard Mike Conley in the fourth quarter of the team’s NBA playoff win over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night.
Finch was helped off the court and later left the arena on a cart. The Timberwolves confirmed the nature of Finch’s injury.
Conley was trying to dribble down the sideline when he collided with Suns star Devin Booker and ran into Finch. Conley tried to brace their fall, but Finch grimaced and immediately grabbed his right knee.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch left to the locker room after a sideline collision with Mike Conley
Wishing him well 🙏 pic.twitter.com/0P1NAiQ7oG
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 29, 2024
He was down for a few minutes, surrounded by Minnesota players, coaches and staff, before slowly getting up and being assisted off the court.
Minnesota beat the Phoenix Suns 122-116 to sweep the first-round series, advancing to the second round for the first time since 2004.
READ: NBA: Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves advance after sweeping Suns
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 game.
“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 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.”