Rudy Gobert punches Kyle Anderson during Timberwolves timeout / News - Basketnews.com

A rather unusual incident happened during a Minnesota Timberwolves timeout, when Rudy Gobert tossed a punch at Kyle Anderson’s chest.

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With a win over the New Orleans Pelicans, the Minnesota Timberwolves are guaranteed the No. 8 seed in the play-in tournament. A win plus a Los Angeles Lakers loss would boost Minnesota to seventh, while a loss to the Pelicans would clinch the No. 9 seed.

Kyle Anderson

MIN:28.35PTS:9.38 (55.78%)REB:5.33As:4.86ST:1.13BL:0.91TO:1.49GM:69ProfileNBA2022/2023

As such, tensions were high in Minnesota, as evidenced by a second-quarter altercation on their bench. Trailing 48-36 to the New Orleans Pelicans with 4:23 left in the first half, Rudy Gobert and Kyle Anderson were going at each other, both yelling and gesturing at each other.

But things escalated when Gobert stepped forward and tossed a punch at Anderson’s chest, leading to some chaos as the rest of the team tried to separate the two.

Gobert was then escorted to the locker room while Anderson stayed in the game.

The Timberwolves center didn't return to the game for the rest of the half and was sent home, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. The Pelicans jumped out to a 13-point lead in the opening half before settling on an eight-point advantage at halftime.

The Star Tribune's Chris Hine asked Gobert about his thoughts on Anderson's leadership Saturday, the day before the altercation. Previous teammates have mentioned Anderson speaks bluntly to his teammates.

"Kyle wants to win, and sometimes he's a little aggressive in the way he talks, but I don't take it personally," Gobert said. "I receive it in a positive way because it comes from a place of wanting me to be the best Rudy I can be and wanting us to win."

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Gobert escalated a verbal argument to a physical encounter after Kyle Anderson told him to "Shut the f--- up, bitch."

The disagreement started with Anderson telling Gobert to block some shots, Gobert telling him to grab a rebound – and ended with a punch and Gobert getting sent home.

Per the same report, Gobert later sent an apologetic text to teammates in a group chat, per Mike Conley. "We'll speak about it and move on," he said. "We're grown men."

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