Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves returned to the hardwood on Friday, after the All-Star Break. Anthony Edwards immediately asserted his dominance as the All-Star Game MVP by dropping 40 points on the Dallas Mavericks.
That gives the Wolves three-straight victories entering their game Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers. Unfortunately, they may have to play tomorrow’s contest undermanned, after Rudy Gobert was suspended for committing his seventh flagrant foul of the season during his 22 point, 17 rebound effort vs the Mavs.
The following has been released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/lk88UZj5ZU
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 21, 2026
Gobert’s fatal infraction came with time running out in the second quarter last night, when one of his flailing appendages slapped Marvin Bagley across the face. He told reporters last night that he planned to appeal the flagrant foul, but that appeal failed, according to reports.
Losing Rudy Gobert to suspension would hurt Minnesota Timberwolves badly
Rudy Gobert — who is averaging averaging 11.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game — is among the best defenders in all of basketball, and a first-ballot Hall of Famer who’s won FOUR Defensive Player of the Year awards by using his 7’1″ frame to make scoring in the paint impossible for opposing offenses.
Gobert called for a Flagrant against Bagley pic.twitter.com/P8IlVSgNnx
— MavsHighlights (@MavsHighlights) February 21, 2026
Earlier this season, he was in the running for a fifth DPOY Award, but those odds are now much longer (+1400), after a mid-season surge by Victor Wembanyama pushed him to a -330 favorite.
Rudy has played in 55 of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 57 games this season. Players must compete in at least 65 games to be eligible for NBA regular season awards. Even if it’s unlikely he’ll win, our favorite 33-year-old semi uncoordinated big man will easily clear the games played threshold just in case.
Gobert came into the season as one of only three players in NBA history, along with Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace, to win four Defensive Player of the Year awards. A fifth would make him pretty inarguably the best defensive player in NBA history… unless you ask Draymond Green.
Rudy Gobert on-ball defense on Kawhi Leonard pic.twitter.com/SUm6FGoSNq
— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) February 8, 2026
Mentioned in this article: Rudy Gobert
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