Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels landed on the injury report Sunday after frustratingly punching a wall during Minnesota’s bizarre regular season finale against the Pelicans.
McDaniels played nine minutes in what was his 79th career start but was subbed out of the contest after picking up second foul with less than a minute to go in the first quarter. The forward then took a walk down the tunnel to the locker room, where he unleashed a right hand into a nearby wall.
McDaniels was seen icing his hand moments after the punch, and he remained on the bench throughout the second quarter. Minnesota then announced the 22-year-old had been ruled out for the rest of the game with a right hand injury. It was later reported that McDaniels sustained a fractured hand, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
McDaniels’s accidental injury occurred shortly before his teammates Rudy Gobert and Kyle Anderson got into a sideline argument that led to the All-Star center throwing a punch.
Meanwhile let's take an updated look on our opponent 👀@PelicansNBA | #Pelicans |📺:BSNO pic.twitter.com/PDb2TSDFXM
— Bally Sports New Orleans (@BallySportsNO) April 9, 2023
With the standout defender likely out for the foreseeable future, the Timberwolves now find themselves in a tough spot. And with Minnesota gearing up for the play-in tournament, McDaniels’s injury couldn’t come at more devastating time as the team also faces the possibility of being without Gobert.
After defeating the Pelicans, 113–108, on Sunday, the Timberwolves (42–40), despite struggling throughout the season, are officially locked into the No. 8 seed in the West. Minnesota will face the No. 7 seed Lakers in the play-in tournament on April 11.
