![\"Rudy](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/NBA-Dallas-Mavericks-at-Minnesota-Timberwolves-28299056-scaled-e1771711153408.jpg\")
Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
The Minnesota Timberwolves returned to the hardwood on Friday<\/a>, after the All-Star Break. Anthony Edwards immediately asserted his dominance as the All-Star Game MVP<\/a> by dropping 40 points on the Dallas Mavericks.<\/p>\n That gives the Wolves three-straight victories entering their game Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers. Unfortunately, they may have to play tomorrow\u2019s contest undermanned, after Rudy Gobert was suspended for committing his seventh flagrant foul of the season during his<\/a> 22 point, 17 rebound effort vs the Mavs.<\/p>\n The following has been released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com\/lk88UZj5ZU<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 21, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Gobert\u2019s 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<\/a> last night that he planned to appeal the flagrant foul, but that appeal failed, according to reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n Losing Rudy Gobert to suspension would hurt Minnesota Timberwolves badly<\/p>\n Rudy Gobert \u2014 who is averaging averaging 11.2 points, 11.3 rebounds<\/a>, and 1.6 blocks per game \u2014 is among the best defenders in all of basketball, and a first-ballot Hall of Famer who\u2019s won FOUR Defensive Player of the Year awards<\/a> by using his 7\u20191\u2033 frame to make scoring in the paint impossible for opposing offenses.<\/p>\n Gobert called for a Flagrant against Bagley pic.twitter.com\/P8IlVSgNnx<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 MavsHighlights (@MavsHighlights) February 21, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Earlier this season, he was in the running<\/a> for a fifth DPOY Award, but those odds<\/a> are now much longer (+1400), after a mid-season surge by Victor Wembanyama pushed him to a -330 favorite.<\/p>\n Rudy has played in 55 of the Minnesota Timberwolves\u2019 57 games this season<\/a>. Players must compete in at least 65 games to be eligible for NBA regular season awards. Even if it\u2019s unlikely he\u2019ll win, our favorite 33-year-old semi uncoordinated big man will easily clear the games played threshold just in case.<\/p>\n 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\u2026 unless you ask Draymond Green<\/a>.<\/p>\n Rudy Gobert on-ball defense on Kawhi Leonard pic.twitter.com\/SUm6FGoSNq<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) February 8, 2026<\/a> More About:Minnesota Timberwolves<\/a><\/p>\n Add MinnesotaSportsFan as a preferred source on Google. \t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Rudy Gobert<\/a> <\/p>\n![\"Add](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/google_preferred_source_badge.png\"){kind=icon}
<\/a><\/p>\n