Jade Carter
In the battle for the fifth seed in the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Houston Rockets at Target Center in overtime by 110–108, after trailing 108–95 with 2:45 left in OT before going on a 15–0 run to secure a crucial win without Anthony Edwards.
It was the biggest overtime comeback in NBA history and the standout player for Minnesota was Rudy Gobert, who finished with 14 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks on 7-of-13 shooting, including a crucial defensive play in the clutch when he blocked Kevin Durant in isolation.
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After the game, Gobert responded to a comment from reporter Chris Hine, who asked whether he was surprised that so many players target him in isolation despite being statistically one of the best isolation defenders in the league.
“I know that’s not what I feel, it’s the world. That’s not what I hear on Instagram,” Gobert said in the locker room after the game. “I don’t know if it’s surprising because it’s getting around, it’s getting around. But overall, a little bit, but I get excited. I’m a competitor and I embrace these situations. You rarely see those clips on social media, so you see more of the, when it comes to me, you see all the negative stuff.”
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“I don’t really care,” Gobert added. “The impact of winning is what I care about and helping my team. That’s what I wake up excited to do every day. Maybe the truth will catch up to those people one day.”
Gobert’s defensive numbers are elite this season
Despite being tied with legends like Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace for the most Defensive Player of the Year awards in history, Gobert has often been the subject of viral clips on social media highlighting his offensive limitations.
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However, the French center is well aware of his value and has been one of the most impactful winning players in the league for years. Over the past decade, he ranks third in total wins league-wide with 481, trailing only James Harden and Nikola Jokic.
This season, Gobert ranks among the top 10 players in opponent field goal percentage allowed at 44.4 percent, while posting a defensive rating of 108.8 points allowed per 100 possessions, according to NBA.com, further proof that he remains the best defensive player of his generation.
Although Jaden McDaniels scored 25 points and Julius Randle added 24, and even though Alperen Sengun had a big night with 30 points and six rebounds on 12-of-22 shooting, including a powerful poster dunk on Gobert, who eventually fouled out, the defining moment of the game was Gobert’s defense on Durant.
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KD finished the game with 30 points and eight assists, albeit on 9-of-22 shooting, well below his usual standard and in the end, that possession on Rudy, along with missed free throws, proved costly for his team.
Gobert is once again in the mix for the DPOY award
It was a crucial win for Chris Finch’s squad, which now sits 1.5 games ahead of Ime Udoka’s team and remains firmly in the hunt for the third seed in the West, currently held by the Los Angeles Lakers with a two-game cushion, all while Edwards is sidelined with injury.
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Still, Gobert made sure the team didn’t lose momentum and he is once again on track to finish in the top three of the Defensive Player of the Year voting, likely behind Victor Wembanyama, whose numbers have been astonishing, but not far off from what the 33-year-old is producing.
So don’t be surprised if the Timberwolves reach the Western Conference finals for a third straight season. It won’t be easy, but with the Gobert–Edwards core, it’s very much within reach.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
