Timberwolves coach Chris Finch could miss start of Nuggets series after freak sideline injury

Chris Finch's status for Saturday's game in Denver is up in the air as he's set for surgery Wednesday to repair the patellar tendon in his right leg after being injured during an in-game collision Sunday night, ESPN reported Tuesday morning.

While Finch, 54, is expected to be able to travel with the team Friday if the surgery goes as planned, he'll be required to keep his right leg immobilized in a brace at the start of his rehab, the report said, meaning he might not be able to be on the Timberwolves' bench.

Chris Finch tore his patellar tendon tonight on this play

-He will need surgery likely between rounds

-Timeline of healing is 6 months but usually 1 year before feeling normal pic.twitter.com/9iF94UOOWq

— Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT (@GameInjuryDoc) April 29, 2024

Assistant coach Micah Nori would coach on Saturday if Finch can't, per ESPN, with Finch relaying messages from the locker room.

Finch, in his fourth year coaching Minnesota, was hurt during a collision with Timberwolves guard Mike Conley late in the fourth quarter of the team's Game 4 win over the Suns, which completed a sweep.

Conley was bumped by Suns guard Devin Booker, and Finch crumbled in pain after Conley ran into him.

Finch had to be helped off the court.

This is the third straight year Finch has led the Timberwolves — who went 56-26 this season to finish third in the Western Conference — to the playoffs, but the first time he's won a playoff series.

Now the Wolves will have to face the defending champion Nuggets, potentially without their coach in the first game, after Denver eliminated the Lakers on Monday in five games.