Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has been suspended for one game, missing Minnesota's AT&T Play-In Tournament opener on Tuesday, for punching his teammate, Kyle Anderson, the team announced Monday.

According to NBA's website, Gobert is expected to return if the Timberwolves lose in the Play-In to the Los Angeles Lakers or advance to the Western Conference playoffs.

During a timeout in the second quarter of Sunday's game against New Orleans Pelicans, Gobert punched Anderson. While the team was huddling during a timeout, he raised his arm toward Anderson and appeared to hit his teammate in the chest with his hand.

Coaches and teammates led Gobert to the locker room after physically separating the two. Anderson later said, "I think tempers just flared. That's all," adding that they will have no trouble getting along moving forward.

"We want to win games. It is what it is. It ain't the first time someone has swung on me," he noted.

The decision to send Gobert home after the second-quarter incident was confirmed by Timberwolves president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, in a statement.

"We decided to send Rudy Gobert home after the incident in the second quarter. His behavior on the bench was unacceptable, and we will continue handling the situation internally," Connelly said.

The Timberwolves beat the New Orleans Pelicans 113-108 to finish in eighth place in the Western Conference. The team also draw a play-in tournament matchup with the Lakers by moving ahead of the Pelicans in the standings.

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Minnesota Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert Apologizes to Kyle Anderson

Fox News reported that Rudy Gobert admitted his fault after being ejected from Sunday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Athletic reported that another heated exchange happened in the locker room, with Kyle Anderson threatening Gobert by saying, "I'll knock your a-- out." 

Gobert was eventually sent home. Addressing the issue, he wrote on Twitter, "Emotions got the best of me today. I should not have reacted the way I did regardless of what was said. I wanna apologize to the fans, the organization, and particularly to Kyle, someone I truly love and respect as a teammate."

Mike Conley, the Timberwolves' senior point guard, confirmed that Gobert had apologized to the team via a message to the group chat.

"We're not proud of that behavior by anybody," head coach Chris Finch noted.

Draymond Green Says He Gained Respect for Rudy Gobert After the Incident

Draymond Green, a veteran of the Golden State Warriors, revealed that he now respects Rudy Gobert after he punched Kyle Anderson. 

Green praised Gobert during Monday's episode of "The Draymond Green Show," wherein he talked about the Timberwolves unraveling. He said that he respects Gobert for standing up for himself, MARCA reported.

"Kyle Anderson uttered some words to Rudy Gobert that a lot of people think... I personally think Rudy Gobert is on the softer side," Green said.

Green's tweet after Gobert struck Anderson also read, "Insecurity is always loud," which was the Minnesota center's message when the Golden State veteran punched Jordan Poole.

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Written by: Bert Hoover

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