The LA Clippers will welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves to Intuit Dome on Wednesday evening, in their second matchup with their Western Conference rivals over the last week. Last Friday, the Timberwolves defeated the Clippers in a close contest in Minnesota, 93-92.
After the loss, Ivica Zubac went on record saying the Clippers felt they should have won that game, and said that they can't wait to see the Wolves again. They will get another shot at Minnesota just five days after their previous matchup, and with both teams riding two-game winning streaks.
However, when the Clippers tip off with the Timberwolves this time, they will be without the services of Terance Mann. Joey Linn of Sports Illustrated reported on Tuesday that Mann suffered a fractured middle finger in his left hand during LA's win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Terance Mann has a fractured middle finger on his left hand.
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) December 4, 2024
Terance Mann suffered a fractured middle finger
It is unclear exactly how much time Mann is set to miss, as the team is yet to announce an official injury timeline. However, this is usually an ailment that takes multiple weeks for any player to come back from. This news comes at an unfortunate time for both Terance and the team, as Mann's level of play was beginning to pick up.
After scoring in double figures in just three of his first 17 contests of the season, many wondered about how much Mann's offensive struggles would affect the team going forward. Some even suggested he be out of the rotation completely. But more recently, Mann's output improved and he scored at least 10 points in three of the Clippers' last five games.
It looked like he was beginning to turn a corner, especially after logging a season-high 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. But now, Mann will be forced to focus on his rehab work until he can get back to full health again.
Not being able to have him coming off the bench will hurt, as T-Mann obviously affects the game in many ways even when he is not scoring. It will be a test for the Clippers over the next several weeks to see how they can find success in new ways while down yet another rotation player.