Golden State’s Dario Saric got the ball in the paint late in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Timberwolves with space to operate and only his man in front of him. The problem was, his man was Rudy Gobert. Rather than taking on that challenge, Saric dribbled out and got off the ball.

Seconds later, Steph Curry fed Saric again off a pick and roll. Saric took a couple of hard dribbles in the paint, but the issue of Gobert again loomed. This time, Saric at least gave it a try, coming to a jump stop before attempting a no-jump, flip-up shot at the bucket, seemingly trying to catch Gobert off guard.

The shot was no good.

This is the Rudy Gobert effect. A healthier Gobert this fall is back to his usual, dominant defensive self, and opponents have taken notice. He is again a feared figure in the paint, a major deterrent for all opposing offensive threats.

“He just stand and go put his arms out,” teammate Jaden McDaniels said of Gobert. “He a big presence for us and, I mean, he like the anchor of our defense. I’m thankful for having him.”

It was no secret last season to anyone watching that Gobert was not playing at the level of a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He seemed to lack a step of quickness and simply wasn’t as explosive. That seemed to stem from a long run with France in EuroBasket that ran right up to training camp. Gobert battled back issues intermittently throughout last season.

That is clearly no longer an issue.

“He’s back to the Rudy that we had to face for many years, which is a real problem,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said.

At the start of this season, Gobert said he actually felt better than he’s ever felt before.

“I feel like I’m stronger than I’ve been. And I just see the experience that I have now, and you add that to the rest of the abilities that I have, I think that’s the best that I’ve been,” Gobert said.

He certainly looks good. Gobert has even been a major asset guarding rangier big men out on the perimeter. But it’s his rim deterrence that continues to serve as his greatest ability.

Minnesota is the top defense in the NBA this season heading into Tuesday’s bout with Golden State. The Wolves are surrendering a staggering 102 points per 100 possessions — 2.7 points stingier than the Knicks, who have the second-lowest number.

That all starts on the interior, where the Wolves are allowing the fourth-fewest shot attempts from within five feet this season (25.9). And even on that small number of attempts, teams are shooting the third-lowest percentage on such shots (57.5 percent).

It’s not uncommon to see teams attempt to take Gobert on early in games, fail to succeed, and then shy away from further endeavors as the night wears on. That shows itself at critical junctures later in games. Last Monday, for example, Boston’s Jayson Tatum shed his perimeter defender at the start of overtime and darted with the ball toward the bucket. But once Gobert stepped over to contest the potential finish, the hard-charging Tatum elected to kick out to an outside shooter.

“It’s a luxury to have him, honestly,” veteran Timberwolves guard Mike Conley said. “I’ve been blessed to have him for four or five years where (if) you do get beat, you don’t have to reach, you don’t have to foul, you don’t have to contest late and put yourself in a bad situation, because he’s there.”

Finch said Gobert’s teammates have done a better job this season making it more difficult for opponents to get to Gobert. Rather than granting opponents free runways, Wolves’ perimeter defenders are contesting the entire way, so Gobert isn’t facing much in the way of straight-line drives.

Warriors star guard Steph Curry told reporters he had two turnovers in Sunday’s loss to the Timberwolves where he didn’t attack the paint with any type of plan.

“You get in there and those big guys are long and lengthy at the rim, and you don’t have options,” Curry said.

Wolves defenders can be tight and physical from the perimeter on in, knowing perhaps the NBA’s best defensive backstop stands between their man and the rim.

“When they do get beat,” Gobert said, “obviously, I’m there.”

 Briefly

Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards was named Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday. He averaged 31.3 points, 6.8 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game on 47 percent shooting in four games last week, while guiding the Wolves to a perfect 4-0 mark.

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