Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch sustained a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee during a sideline collision Sunday night.
Multiple reports Monday said Finch will likely have surgery between playoff rounds, then faces a recovery period of six months to one year.
Finch had to be helped off the court late in Minnesota’s series-clinching 122-116 win at Phoenix. Timberwolves guard Mike Conley crashed into Finch after being forced out of bounds by Suns guard Devin Booker, who was whistled for a personal foul.
Assistant coach Micah Nori took over after Finch was injured with 1:41 remaining in the game.
“Everybody has their role, everybody has each other’s back,” Nori said. “I know it sounds corny, but it’s just next man up — even with the coaching staff.”
Minnesota’s four-game sweep in the first-round Western Conference series was the team’s first playoff series win since 2003-04.
Finch, 54, guided the Timberwolves to a 56-26 record and the No. 3 seed in the West this season. He is 160-127 since replacing Ryan Saunders in February 2021.
Finch finished third in the NBA Coach of the Year voting on Sunday behind winner Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Orlando Magic’s Jamahl Mosley.
