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Minnesota Timberwolves star center Rudy Gobert improbably nailed a clutch fadeaway jumper during Sunday's 98-90 Game 7 second-round playoff win over the Denver Nuggets. Afterward, TNT's Reggie Miller humorously likened the four-time Defensive Player of the Year's big shot to Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan's signature fadeaway.
After trailing by as many as 20 points in the third quarter, the Timberwolves rallied to secure a fourth-quarter lead. Their advantage was 77-75 with 7:43 remaining when Gobert, who primarily scores inside, was forced to take a contested jumper to beat the shot-clock buzzer.
The 7-foot-1 Frenchman drove to the baseline, briefly getting double-teamed by Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokic and shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He quickly spun out of the double team, fading away over Jokic on the wing.
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To the surprise of many, Gobert knocked down the shot to put Minnesota up by four points, with Miller remarking about his fadeaway being Jordan-like.
"Did Rudy Gobert just pull the Michael Jordan?" Miller asked.
Rudy Gobert finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and two blocks on 42.9% shooting before fouling out late in the final period. The three-time All-Star's clutch fadeaway jumper marked one of only three made baskets for him. Nonetheless, it will likely be remembered, as it helped the Timberwolves secure their first Western Conference finals berth since 2004.
Chris Finch quips about Rudy Gobert's clutch Game 7 fadeaway
After Minnesota's Game 7 victory over Denver, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch was asked about Rudy Gobert's clutch fadeaway jumper, providing a humorous response.
The 54-year-old quipped that Minnesota drew up a play for Gobert to score on the wing during its previous timeout and he delivered. Finch added that the star center's big-time shot compensated for his offensive struggles earlier in the contest.
"Yeah, that was a heck of an ATO we drew up for him," Finch said. "I mean, listen, you need that, you know? He made one of those in Game 1, too. ... So, I was happy for him because it made up for the fastbreak layup that he missed."
In addition to the Timberwolves earning their second-ever West finals berth, Gobert is set to make his first conference finals appearance in 11 seasons. The 31-year-old has been one of the league's most heavily criticized stars over the past few years, with fans and analysts regularly questioning his winning impact.
So, Gobert's series-long defensive impact against the Nuggets, combined with him coming up big offensively late in Sunday's Game 7, should help boost his reputation.
