Minnesota Timberwolves star center Rudy Gobert is out for Monday night's Game 2 against the Denver Nuggets, head coach Chris Finch announced.
He was listed as questionable due to the birth of his first child. The baby boy was delivered Monday morning, sources told ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
Gobert, an 11-year veteran who is attempting to advance to the conference finals for the first time in his career, has averaged 13.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.2 steals per game as third-seeded Minnesota opened the playoffs with five consecutive wins.
The Timberwolves have outscored opponents by 74 points in Gobert's 175 minutes, which ranks as the second best individual plus-minus in these playoffs.
He's key to this second-round series against the Nuggets as another body to throw at two-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Gobert had 13 rebounds and three blocks while helping to hold Jokic to 11-of-25 shooting in Game 1.
The Wolves lead the series 1-0.
