Rudy Gobert walked onto the court for Game 2 between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets with a chip on his shoulder. Earlier that day, the NBA announced that Victor Wembanyama was named the league’s first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, while Gobert wasn’t even named a finalist for the award that he’s won four times.
Chet Holmgren was the runner-up and Ausar Thompson finished third. Gobert finished fourth in the voting, a result that he described as “disrespectful.”
“Not the first time I get disrespected, probably not the last,” Gobert stated, adding that the voters “disrespect greatness” and “take it for granted.” But the Stifle Tower didn’t spend the evening sulking. Instead, he channeled that energy into a masterclass performance against the Nuggets, helping the Wolves even the series at 1-1.
Rudy Gobert Suffocates 3-Time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić to in Major Statement Game
The Timberwolves registered a 119-114 win over the Nuggets at Ball Arena on Monday, a huge victory after their 116-105 loss in Game 1. The main storyline of Monday night’s game was the individual battle in the paint.
Gobert shut down three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, holding him to just 1-of-8 shooting (12.5%) when matched up; it was Jokić’s lowest shooting percentage in a playoff game against a single defender with at least six attempts.
This season, Jokić averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists while shooting 56.9% from the field. He led the league with 34 triple-doubles and became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounds per game and assists per game.
Rudy Gobert on not being named a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year: “Not the first time I get disrespected, probably not the last.”
Asked about how he stopped Jokic late. Joked that “I got lucky.” pic.twitter.com/RTl1xVgaWg
— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) April 21, 2026
While Jokić dropped 24 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists in Game 2, Gobert’s defensive lockdown helped the Timberwolves hold Denver to 3-of-15 shooting in the final eight minutes and get the win. With Gobert on the floor, the Wolves held the Nuggets to just 1.10 points per possession and 40 points in the paint.
In the post-game interview, when reporters asked about the Frenchman’s defensive dominance over the league’s best offensive player, Gobert gave a sarcastic response.
“I was lucky,” said Gobert. “I’m not a top-three defender, [I] cannot do that, so I was lucky.”
Anthony Edwards led the Wolves offensively with 30 points and 10 rebounds on 10-of-25 shooting. Julius Randle added 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, while shooting 7-of-14 from the field. Gobert finished with 2 points and 7 rebounds.
The series now heads to Minnesota for Game 3, giving the Timberwolves home-court advantage, and Gobert will have another opportunity to make a statement and prove the Defensive Player of the Year voters that he was overlooked.
