"It's a baby, bro, it's gonna be there when you get back" - Arenas calls out Gobert for missing Game 2 due to the birth of his first child

The Minnesota Timberwolves were without three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner Rudy Gobert in Game 2 of their best-of-seven second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets on Monday night.

Gobert returned to Minneapolis after his girlfriend gave birth to their first child early Monday. There were initial plans for Rudy to fly back right away in time for Game 2, but the bad weather in Denver forced Wolves' head coach, Chris Finch, to give the French center the night off and allow him to stay at home.

When Gilbert Arenas heard the news, he called out the 'Stifle Tower' on his Gil's Arena Podcast.

"It's a baby bro. It's gonna be there when you get back…I'm just saying. Whatever you think about doing with the baby, he gonna be asleep. I get it that you want to be with your wife and smile and all that stuff. You're good with NBA healthcare and insurance. It's because you are playing," said Gil.

The Wolves prepared for Game 2 as if Rudy wasn't playing

While Arenas was hot about Gobert's decision to be with his family rather than his team on Monday, Rudy's absence wasn't really unexpected for the Timberwolves. The Frenchman revealed on Instagram in February that he and his girlfriend, Julia Bonilla, were expecting a child. 'The Stifle Tower' then hinted that he might have to miss a playoff game to be there when Bonilla gives birth to their first child.

“I would do anything I can to be there,” Gobert said . “I don’t think there’s any debate to have. Coach Finch and every guy in this locker room, that’s what I love about them, we have a level of human connection and empathy for one another that I think is really good. And I think all the guys will be literally telling me, ‘Don’t play, go.’”

The Timberwolves were mum about Gobert's absence in front of the media. However, reports said the Wolves prepared for Game 2 as if Rudy wasn't playing. So, although they were going to miss their defensive anchor, they were prepared to play the Nuggets without him, which showed on Monday night.

Minnesota's defense stifled Denver in the first half of Game 2

Minnesota put on an absolute defensive clinic against the defending champions. The league's No. 1 defense showed why they are elite on that end of the floor, limiting the high-powered Nuggets offense. With the Wolves scoring 61 points, the 26-point halftime deficit was the largest ever in Denver's playoff history.

The Wolves' scrappy perimeter defense held Jamal Murray to 3-18 from the field, while Karl Anthony-Towns and Naz Reid cuffed Nikola Jokic to just 16 points on 5-13 shooting. With their stars struggling, the Nuggets stood no chance against the Timberwolves.

Overall, the Wolves held the Nuggets to a paltry 34.9% FG shooting, with the defending champs making just 29 of their 83 FG attempts. Aside from limiting Denver's shooting accuracy, Minnesota also finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks as they ran away with Game 2, 106-80.

With the win, the Wolves are now up 2-0 in the series. Games 3 and 4 will be played in Minnesota, where Gobert is already waiting.

Related: "This series is a wrap" - Charles Barkley predicts Timberwolves to clean sweep Nuggets after humiliating them in Game 2