Rudy

Gobert

Gobert was back after serving a one-game suspension on Sunday, and he picked up right where he left off. He had 22 points and 17 rebounds in his previous game, and while he didn’t do as much scoring, he was able to set a new season high for rebounds. Gobert isn’t the same player that he used to be, but he’s still capable of making a big impact for fantasy managers, just like he did in this game.

Reid will return following a one-game absence, which should cut significantly into Joan Beringer’s minutes. With Rudy Gobert back after serving a one-game suspension, Reid should handle his usual role as Minnesota’s Sixth Man.

Gobert was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul for an “unnecessary flail” during Friday’s win over the Mavericks. The NBA announced Saturday that the foul was upheld and thus Gobert has been suspended one game without pay for accruing his seventh flagrant foul point of the regular season. The 33-year-old center will serve his suspension Sunday against the 76ers. Naz Reid or Joan Beringer could move into the starting lineup in Gobert’s absence. While Reid has fantasy value either way, Beringer is only relevant if he’s starting.

Gobert had one of his best games of the season on Friday, but he may not be available for Minnesota’s next game. The 7-foot-1 center was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul for an “unnecessary flail” during Friday’s victory. If the league office doesn’t rescind the call, Gobert will be suspended for Sunday’s game against the 76ers. Naz Reid or Joan Beringer, with the latter playing four minutes on Friday, would be the replacement in the starting lineup. While Reid offers solid fantasy value whether he starts or comes off the bench, Beringer needs to start to be of value to fantasy managers.

Gobert has hit double figures in rebounds in five consecutive games, with Friday’s effort being accompanied by five “stocks.” Even with the rebounds and defensive production, the 7-foot-1 center continues to hover just inside the top-100 in nine-cat formats. However, for those willing to punt free-throw percentage, Gobert has been among the best post players to have rostered in that particular build.

Rebounds and defensive stats are the areas where Gobert can be most valuable to fantasy managers, and that’s how things played out on Saturday. He’s hit double digits in rebounds and blocked at least two shots in three of his last four outings. For those willing to punt free-throw percentage, Gobert has been a top-25 fantasy player this season. The Timberwolves play four games in Week 16.

With Rudy Gobert initially questionable for Thursday’s game with a sprained left ankle, it appeared that Reid would have a chance to start. Gobert (14 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and one steal) played, but his presence in the lineup didn’t keep Reid from doing what he usually does as the highest-scoring reserve in the NBA. Over the past two weeks, he has been close to a top-50 player in eight-cat formats.

Gobert was initially listed as questionable for this game, but he will be good to go against OKC. He was held to just six points and six rebounds in 21 minutes in the Timberwolves’ last game, but he had 14 rebounds in 32 minutes against the Thunder earlier this season.

Gobert played 21 minutes against the Mavericks on Wednesday, and the team may have been monitoring his soreness with that smaller amount of court time. If the team opts to hold him out for the second game of a back-to-back, Naz Reid would likely step into a much larger role, albeit in a tough matchup against the Thunder.

Several players made big contributions for the Timberwolves in their blowout victory over the Warriors. Even in the one-sided affair, Gobert logged 35 minutes, allowing him the time necessary to dominate the glass and the interior before finishing with a monster double-double, his eighth of January. Gobert has enjoyed another strong season and should continue to produce good numbers the rest of the way, barring any unforeseen circumstances.