Wolves’ Chris Finch Expected to Travel for Nuggets Game After Surgery on Knee Injury

Julia StumbaughMay 1, 2024

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Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch plans to join his team in Denver for Saturday’s conference semifinal Game 1 three days after undergoing knee surgery, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN).

He suffered the injury Sunday in a sideline collision with Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. during the Game 4 win that completed Minnesota’s first-round sweep of the Phoenix Suns.

The Timberwolves are now discussing methods in which Finch can join the coaching staff for the series against the Denver Nuggets while accommodating his leg, according to the AP.

Minnesota assistant coach Micah Nori told media members Wednesday that Finch’s surgery “went well” and that his “spirits are remarkably high.”

The Timberwolves are flying to Denver Thursday night, while Finch is likely to make the trip closer to Game 1 to allow as much time to recover from the surgery as possible, according to the AP.

Alan Horton @WolvesRadioAssistant coach Micah Nori met with the media today & said Chris Finch is “out of surgery, it went well. His spirits are remarkably high.”

Nori mentioned Finch likely won’t travel with team tomorrow night but the plan is for him to be in Denver. pic.twitter.com/1e4Xqatcjn

Wojnarowski reported that Finch’s right leg will be “immobilized in a brace” during the early stages of recovery from the procedure.

That creates a logistical challenge as to where Finch can sit on the sideline while remaining far enough away to avoid another dangerous collision.

If unable to fit him on the sideline, Nori said that Finch could watch the game from another location and meet the players before the game and at halftime in the locker room, according to the AP.

Nori said the Wolves have discussed the possibility of Finch texting his assistant coaches during the game, but decided against it, according to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski.

Earlier this week Finch finished third place in voting for the 2023-24 NBA Coach of the Year. He earned one first-place vote, 23 second-place nods and 31 third-place votes after leading the Timberwolves to 56 wins during the regular season.

Nori coached one game for the Wolves earlier this season, when Finch was sidelined by illness prior to a March 9 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

If Finch is limited in his availability to lead the Wolves through their series against the defending champions, Nori is likely to take on a “greater role” with Minnesota, according to Krawczynski.

Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals tips off Saturday in Denver at a time still to be determined.