NBA in meltdown mode in final day madness, star punches teammate

There has been madness across the league on the final day of the NBA season with one star seen punching a teammate.

2 min read

April 10, 2023 - 9:01AM

Rudy Gobert took a swing. Photo: Twitter, ESPN.

There has been widespread madness on the final day of the NBA regular season.

With the 2023 Playoff picture being pieced together, teams and players were wound surprisingly tight with several incredible moments of mayhem stunning the league on the eve of the Playoffs.

The Minnesota Timberwolves imploded in their match against New Orleans with star centre Rudy Gobert taking a swing at teammate Kyle Anderson.

The French star was sent home by the team, the Timberwolves announced just after half time, after the incredible moment he threw a punch that appeared to land under Anderson’s jaw.

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Rudy Gobert took a swing. Photo: Twitter, ESPN.

Rudy Gobert was shoved away by teammates. Photo: Twitter, ESPN.

Gobert was pushed away by teammates before he walked off the court. He did not return.

Replays of the incident showed Gobert and teammates were exchanging words on the court after back to back turnovers that resulted in easy buckets for their opposition during the second quarter.

Kyle Anderson and Rudy Gobert had to be separated after a heated altercation during a timeout. pic.twitter.com/HVuPNdjrxs
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 9, 2023

Gobert and Anderson continued to exchange heated words during a time out. Gobert was then seen stepping past his coach to lash out at Anderson.

It was only the start of the Timberwolves’ drama.

As the team spiralled further into the abyss, Jaden McDaniels was also seen punching a wall in frustration.

After sending Rudy Gobert home for punching a teammate, Jaden McDaniels fractured his hand punching a wall.

Timberwolves are playoff ready. pic.twitter.com/MvZBMUqC2P
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 9, 2023

McDaniels appeared in immediate pain after the punch. The team announced minutes later he would miss the rest of the game as a result of a hand injury.

It was a disastrous first half for the Timberwolves and they trailed 55-47 at half time.

Incredibly, the team pulled itself together in the second half and went on to win 109-106.

The drama was swirling around the league and particularly in the Western Conference as Los Angeles Clippers players were also seen turning on each other.

The Clippers pulled off a 119-114 win over Phoenix, but many commentators believe the team shot itself in the foot by winning the game.

I canâ€™t believe the T-Wolves, heading into the playoffs, had two guys fighting in the huddle during a timeout today.

The Clippers: â€œHold my wine cooler.â€ pic.twitter.com/7qNLhJUJ9j
— Tim Ring (@timringTV) April 9, 2023

The victory sees the Clippers finish fifth overall and will play the Suns in the first round of the playoffs.

A defeat would have seen the Clippers drop to sixth — a result that would have set up a series against the No. 3 seeded Sacramento Kings, considered by most to be a weaker opponent.

The tension was all too much for Clippers teammates Mason Plumlee and Bones Hyland. The pair were seen in a brief fight after exchanging words during the three-quarter-time break.

TV cameras showed Hyland suddenly shoved Plumlee backwards and teammates jumped in to separate the pair.

Elsewhere, the Lakers defeated Utah 128-117, but were unable to escape the play-in tournament, finishing seventh on the Western Conference standings.

Western Conference final standings

1 - Denver Nuggets

2 - Memphis Grizzlies

3 - Sacramento Kings

4 - Phoenix Suns

5 - LA Clippers

6 - Golden State Warriors

7 - Los Angeles Lakers

8 - Minnesota Timberwolves

9 - New Orleans Pelicans