Timberwolves Coach Chris Finch Spotted on Crutches Before NBA Playoff Game

Second-round NBA playoff action is set to get underway on Saturday night with Game 1 between the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets and red-hot Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Nuggets advanced to the Western Conference semifinals after defeating the LeBron James-led Los Angeles Lakers in five games. Minnesota, meanwhile, swept the Phoenix Suns in the opening round of the West playoffs.

The Timberwolves, though, didn't escape their first-round series completely unscathed. In Game 4, head coach Chris Finch suffered a freak leg injury after colliding with Minnesota veteran Mike Conley Jr. He had surgery to repair the ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee earlier this week.

Finch was spotted in crutches ahead of Game 1 against the Nuggets on Saturday night.

Take a look:

"Wolves coach Chris Finch arrives for Game 1 against the Nuggets on crutches after his patellar injury," ESPN's Dave McMenamin posted.

According to NBA insider Shams Charania, there's " increased optimism " that Finch will be seated somewhere near the Minnesota bench for tonight's matchup against Denver.

His exact role while dealing with the injury is unclear, however, it appears he and assistant coach Micah Nori will work together in Game 1. Nori served as Minnesota's acting head coach after Finch suffered the injury in the Phoenix series.

Timberwolves-Nuggets Game 1 is set to get underway at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Fans can catch the action on TNT.