Suns vs. Timberwolves Wednesday NBA injury report odds: Rudy Gobert to return, Chris Paul in doubt

The Phoenix Suns have won five straight games overall against the Minnesota Timberwolves and four in a row in the Twin Cities, but the Wolves may be positioned to get in the win column Wednesday night as they welcome back three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert from the health and safety protocols. The Suns will be without one starter in Cameron Johnson, and Chris Paul may sit as well. Phoenix opened at -4.5 but is now -2 at Caesars Sportsbook.

Gobert missed Minnesota's win over Houston on Saturday and loss to New York on Monday but returned to practice on Tuesday, so perhaps he had a false positive. Remember, the league shut down in March 2020 when Gobert tested positive for COVID. Gobert was acquired in a blockbuster this offseason from Utah and is having an excellent season. He's averaging 12.6 points, a league-high 13.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks.

The Frenchman is a +650 second favorite to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year for a fourth time, which would tie Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace for the most in history. The Timberwolves have clearly missed him the past two games -- they surrendered 117 points to the Rockets and 120 to the Knicks.

Johnson had been Phoenix's top reserve in recent seasons but moved into the starting lineup this year and is averaging a career-best 13 points per game and shooting a career-high 43% on 3-pointers. Alas, he will miss 1-2 months after surgery Tuesday that removed part of the meniscus in his right knee. Johnson had a similar surgery in his left knee during his senior season at North Carolina and was back in five weeks.

Phoenix is already thin at forward without Jae Crowder, who is away from the team until he can be traded -- and the Suns aren't going to bring Crowder in just because of the Johnson injury. Head coach Monty Williams said the Suns will take a by-committee approach to the power forward spot, with Torrey Craig getting the first crack at it.

Paul left in the second quarter of Monday night's 100-88 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers with right heel soreness. The future Hall-of-Famer tried to go around a screen by Philly's Paul Reed with 6:27 to go in the quarter, and immediately hopped in pain and grabbed at his right foot. It seems more likely than not the Suns keep the 37-year-old Paul out until he's 100%, as this team only cares about the postseason. He's officially questionable.

The Suns have beaten the Timberwolves once already this year, 116-107 in Phoenix on Nov. 1. Johnson had 29 points and shot 7-for-11 from deep. Paul had 15 points, 12 assists and a team-high eight rebounds. Gobert took just one shot and scored seven points with nine rebounds. 

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