Rudy Gobert Urges Timberwolves to Bring Energy in Game 6
Rudy Gobert said the Minnesota Timberwolves have to supply their own energy for Game 6 on Thursday, with Minnesota up 3-2 and one win from moving on in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. The 33-year-old center pointed to defense, poise and physicality as the formula at Target Center while Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo remain out.
Gobert on Target Center
Gobert addressed the media after practice on Wednesday and made the message plain: the Timberwolves cannot wait for the building to carry them. “It’s on us to bring it. The crowd and all that can only give us what they can give us to an extent, right? It’s on us to just come in and be ourselves and be in the moment,” he said.
He also tied Minnesota’s position in the series to what it has already done on defense. “We’re missing guys, but we know it’s our defense that’s helped us be there right now, 3-2 against a really good team. So, we know what it comes down to, and then offensively just move the ball, push the pace, and we have guys that can step up when we need them,” Gobert said.
Denver’s Looks in the Paint
Gobert said the Nuggets were getting too many quality chances in earlier games. “I think it’s more about us. They scored, I don’t know how many points in the paint. They were getting wide open shots, so they’re really good players, they’re talented, so if you give them those types of looks, they’re going to make you pay, regardless of who it is,” he said.
That puts the focus back on execution at the point of attack. Minnesota has a 3-2 lead, but it is doing so without Edwards and DiVincenzo, which raises the load on the players still available around Gobert and changes the margin for error at both ends.
Finch Wants Gobert Involved
Chris Finch said he did not like the Timberwolves’ screening in Game 5 and linked that to Gobert’s limited offensive role. “I didn’t like our screening. I didn’t think we screened well as part of our execution. I thought it was part of our soft mentality the other day. That’s certainly a place where Rudy can be involved offensively,” Finch said.
He added, “And Rudy will be involved in the game offensively. He can go to the glass. We can still find him in the roll, no doubt. But primarily, he needs to keep the defense up.” Gobert, who had three points in Game 5, said his job is to create clean looks for others and stay ready when the ball comes back. “It’s about getting my teammates an advantage and then trying to be available in the right spot for them to find me. And if they put two on the ball, it’s probably going to be in the pocket. If they don’t put two on the ball, it’s probably going to be more at the rim,” he said.
Gobert’s role for Game 6 is clear: hold Minnesota’s defense together, be physical at the rim and keep the ball moving. With the Timberwolves missing two starters and already leading the series, Thursday’s game turns on whether the same defensive identity can carry them through another night at Target Center.
