The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-103 on Thursday night. Luka Doncic scored 20 points in the opening quarter and 36 overall, the highest this postseason.

In the first half of Game 5, Rudy Gobert and the Minnesota Timberwolves were not doing well. At the break, they were down by 29 points. Rudy Gobert was given a technical foul early in the game after fighting with Derrick Jones Jr. and Dereck Lively II.

Jones pushed Gobert after fouling him beneath the basket. The center for the Wolves then turned to face Jones again, knocking him. He also pretended to walk through Jones while raising his arms and appearing innocent during the conversation.

The two parted ways quite fast. Lively II yelled a few remarks toward Gobert. Rudy Gobert and Jones were the only ones given double technical fouls. Watch the footage captured from within the arena.

In Game 5, Gobert was confined to single digits in scoring for the first three quarters. Early on and frequently, the Mavericks dominated Minnesota’s domestic scene.

Rudy Gobert Has Been Involved in Offensive Fouls Throughout the Series

Naturally, Gobert has a history of altercations. During a brawl against the Golden State Warriors earlier this season, Draymond Green memorably placed him in a chokehold. In that one, Gobert was only acting as a peacekeeper when Green assaulted him. Before Green hauled him away, he attempted to break up a fight with his comrades.

Rudy Gobert’s early tech in the fifth game was only one aspect of the big man’s difficulties throughout the series. On defense, the defensive player of the year made his presence known.

But Luka Doncic placed him on ice to make the game-winning 3-pointer against the Frenchman in Game 2, so his defense was ineffective. Gobert’s defensive blunder earned him a lot of flak from the media.

Rudy Gobert’s offensive shortcomings have been exposed once more during the postseason. Gobert has frequently seen his offensive threat drop in postseason basketball.