Timberwolves suspend Gobert for play-in game against Lakers due to altercation with teammate

The Minnesota Timberwolves suspended centre Rudy Gobert for their play-in game against the Los Angeles Lakers, after the 10-year veteran threw a punch at teammate Kyle Anderson in an argument in the huddle during a timeout.

The Timberwolves announced on Monday that Gobert would serve his one-game punishment when they face the Lakers on Tuesday night. Gobert took a swing at Anderson and hit him in the upper chest in the second quarter of Minnesota's game against New Orleans on Sunday, when the flustered Timberwolves were trailing by 12 points.

Oh my Rudy Gobert just threw a punch at his own teammate Kyle Anderson <a href="https://t.co/6GP5wwkCqW">pic.twitter.com/6GP5wwkCqW</a>

"It's not something we condone. Veterans can get upset, too, so I don't want to be too hard on him," coach Chris Finch said after the game. 'But obviously it's not something we're going to be able to tolerate here."

Gobert sent a group-text request for forgiveness to his teammates, according to point guard Mike Conley, and later posted a public apology on Twitter.

"It's an emotional game," Conley said. "You're talking about two guys in Kyle and Rudy who are two of the biggest competitors you'll meet. Stuff happens, honestly."

Emotions got the best of me today. I should not have reacted the way i did regardless of what was said. I wanna apologize to the fans, the organisation and particularly to Kyle, who is someone that i truly love and respect as a teammate.

Gobert was playing through back spasms that had him listed as questionable for the game.

"We've got to be mature, especially late in the season like this," Conley said. "We can't let our emotions get the best of us. He knows better than that. Kyle challenges everybody. We know how that works.