D'Angelo Russell exits Timberwolves-Warriors with left shin contusion

Minnesota's starting point guard was unable to finish the game at Golden State.

From NBA.com News Services

January 28, 2022 4:54 AM

D’Angelo Russell handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 27, 2022 at the Chase Center.

The Timberwolves’ bid to secure a big road-win over the second-place Golden State Warriors on Thursday hit a speed bump in the second half when D’Angelo Russell was forced to leave due to a left shin contusion.

Russell would not return, finishing with eight points, four rebounds and five assists in Minnesota’s 124-115 defeat to the Warriors.

D'Angelo Russell (Left Shin Contusion) will not return to tonight’s game.

— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) January 28, 2022

Thursday’s game was a matchup of two teams that completed a franchise-shifting trade in February 2020 that sent Russell to Minnesota in exchange for Andrew Wiggins and a first-round pick. Wiggins was named a starter for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game before the game.

Russell, meanwhile is averaging 19.1 points and 7.0 assists for a Timberwolves team that could very well meet the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. Minnesota entered the night with a 24-23 record, good for seventh place in the Western Conference. The Timberwolves are on pace for just their second season with a winning percentage of .500 or better since 2005.