PHOENIX (AP) — Minnesota coach Chris Finch has a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee after a collision with Timberwolves guard Mike Conley in the fourth quarter of the team's playoff win over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night.
Finch was helped off the court and later left the arena on a cart. The Timberwolves confirmed the nature of Finch's injury.
Conley was trying to dribble down the sideline when he collided with Suns star Devin Booker and ran into Finch. Conley tried to brace their fall, but Finch grimaced and immediately grabbed his right knee.
He was down for a few minutes, surrounded by Minnesota players, coaches and staff, before slowly getting up and being assisted off the court.
Minnesota beat the Phoenix Suns 122-116 to sweep the first-round series, advancing to the second round for the first time since 2004.
Assistant coach Micah Nori directed the team for the final 1:41. Nori said Finch was in the medical room getting checked out and that the team went down to see him after the game.
“He’s obviously in good spirits and so are the guys,” Nori said.
Conley said he didn't see Finch until the last moment and tried to hold him up following the collision. The veteran guard couldn't help but tell a joke or two at the coach's expense after the Game 4 victory.
“I told him to sit his (butt) down — he shouldn't be standing up like that late in the game," Conley said. "He's in the way. But prayers up for him, I'm sure he'll be fine.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch holds his knee after colliding with Timberwolves guard Mike Conley during the second half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Phoenix. The Timberwolves won 122-116, taking the series 4-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach hChris Finch calls times out during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, Friday, April 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
BERLIN (AP) — Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann was supposed to announce his European Championship squad on Thursday but others have been doing it for him instead.
Bakers, singers, entertainers, art venues, radio stations.
The German soccer federation’s decision to “leak” some of Nagelsmann’s choices in a variety of manners has arguably generated more excitement than the confirmed choices themselves.
Injured Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sané was announced on Tuesday by the Frankfurter Kunsthalle art exhibition venue, taking to nine altogether the number of players confirmed before Nagelsmann was to name his squad.
Borussia Dortmund forward Niclas Füllkrug was announced in a radio program, Stuttgart winger Chris Führich by a Black Forest bakery, Eintracht Frankfurt defender Robin Koch by YouTube entertainers, as was Arsenal forward Kai Havertz, then Stuttgart defender Maximilian Mittelstädt was given the green light by singer Peter Schilling on Instagram.
Mittelstädt’s first goal for Germany in the win over the Netherlands in March was celebrated by Schilling’s 1980s hit “Major Tom.” Thousands of German fans signed a petition to make it the official German goal-jingle.
Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah, Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck and Bayern midfielder Aleksandar Pavlović were also called up.
The confirmed choices so far indicate there will be no return for Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka or Mats Hummels despite their strong finishes to the season. The 35-year-old Hummels played a starring role in defense to help Dortmund to the Champions League final.
Sané is suspended for Germany's next warmup match against Ukraine in Nuremberg on June 3, but will be available four days later when it faces Greece for its final tournament tune-up in Mönchengladbach.
Tournament host Germany opens Euro 2024 against Scotland in Munich on June 14. It then plays Hungary in Stuttgart on June 19 and Switzerland in Frankfurt on June 23.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Germany's Leroy Sane, left, vie for the ball with Japan's Takehiro Tomiyasu during an international friendly soccer match between Germany and Japan in Wolfsburg, Germany, on Sept. 9, 2023. Bakers, singers, entertainers, art venues, radio stations. Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann was supposed to announce his European Championship squad on Thursday, but others have been doing it for him instead. The German soccer federation’s decision to “leak” some of Nagelsmann’s choices in a variety of manners has arguably generated more excitement than the confirmed choices themselves. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
