Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch needs knee surgery after Game 4 collision against Suns

Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch will have to undergo surgery for a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee after a sideline collision in Game 5 against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night.

Multiple reports on Monday suggested that Finch, 54, will likely undergo surgery between playoff rounds, before facing a recovery period of six months to a year.

Finch had to be helped off the court late in Minnesota’s 122-116 victory in Phoenix. Timberwolves guard Mike Conley collided with Finch after being forced off the field by Suns guard Devin Booker, who was called for a personal foul.

Assistant coach Micah Nori took over after Finch was injured with 1:41 left in the game.

“Everyone has their role, everyone supports each other,” Nori said. “I know it sounds corny, but he’s the next man up, even with the coaching staff.”

T-Wolves head coach Chris Finch fell to the ground when his OWN point guard Mike Conley collided with him on the sideline in Game 4 against the Suns in the Western Conference first-round series.

Finch clutches knee in pain after colliding with Conley with less than two minutes remaining

Finch, 54, has led the T-Wolves to their first playoff series victory since the 2003-04 season.

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green, a four-time NBA champion, came under fire from an overwhelming amount of NBA fans on X after downplaying Finch’s injury in the game, as the forward’s tweet was described as “shocking” and “mental.”

Minnesota’s four-game sweep of the Western Conference first-round series against the Suns was the team’s first win in a playoff series since 2003-04.

Finch led the Timberwolves to a 56-26 record and third place in the West this season.

He is 160-127 since replacing Ryan Saunders in February 2021.

Finch finished third in NBA Coach of the Year voting on Sunday behind winner Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic.