Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch will undergo surgery to repair a right patellar tendon Wednesday and it remains unclear whether he’ll be able to open the franchise’s Western Conference semifinal series against the Denver Nuggets on the bench, sources told ESPN.
In the early stages of the rehabilitation, surgery will require Finch’s right leg to be immobilized in a brace. If Finch isn’t able to park on the sidelines to start the series, assistant Micah Nori will coach Game 1 on Saturday — with Finch communicating to the bench from the locker room, sources said.
Barring any complications in the procedure Wednesday, Finch – who finished third in the NBA’s Coach of the Year voting — should be able to travel to Denver with the team Friday, sources said.
The Nuggets are the NBA’s defending champions and the No. 2 seed in the West — with the Timberwolves arriving as the third-seed.
Finch suffered the injury in the final moments of a Game 4 victory Sunday over the Phoenix Suns after Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr., collided with his coach after getting bumped dribbling down the sidelines.
Finch has led the Timberwolves to the best regular-season and franchise’s first playoff series victory in 20 years. The Timberwolves have made the playoffs in each of Finch’s first three seasons.
Nori has spent three seasons with Finch in Minnesota after stops with the Detroit Pistons, Nuggets, Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors.
