Ahead of Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal battle against the Golden State Warriors, the Minnesota Timberwolves faced an unexpected setback when their rookie guard, Rob Dillingham, remained sidelined due to a right ankle injury. The team officials have announced this news before their second game at Target Center.
For the Timberwolves, only Rob Dillingham is listed on the injury report. He missed his second straight playoff series. He’s currently recovering from a grade 2 right lateral ankle sprain, an issue he previously faced in December. Following an MRI at MayoClinic, his recovery will take time of atleast one to two weeks, with a re-evaluation scheduled in a week. However, team officials have not confirmed his presence for the next games.
Timeline, Impact and What’s next
The injury came at a tough time for Dillingham, who had proved his impact earlier this season. He returned from his first ankle sprain on January 17 against the New York Knicks, delivering 9 points and three assists. His performance sparkled with his efficiency in the year, with a 9.8 average and 3.0 assists over the final seven games.
Heading into the postseason, as the Timberwolves reduced their player rotation for the playoffs, Dillingham’s minutes decreased. Over his 49 regular-season games in his rookie season, he averaged 4.5 points, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 rebounds.
The team confirmed he missed the entire first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers and expects him to remain sidelined for the duration of the semifinals. Even with a timely potential recovery, the Timberwolves will unlikely have him present for the rest of the season.
Despite Dillingham’s absence reducing their guard depth, the team will be in capable hands with experienced players like Mike Conley and Donte DiVincenzo at point guard, and their momentum hasn’t suffered yet in the long run of the series.
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