Zach LaVine, the promising third-year Timberwolves guard and two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion, will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his left knee, the Timberwolves announced.
Zach LaVine injury is a torn ACL that’ll end his season
The Timberwolves lose one of their core players, who was having a strong third season.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
He suffered the injury on the Timberwolves’ first possession of the fourth quarter in their loss to the Pistons on Friday. He was making a cut from the corner and came up lame along the baseline. He limped off the floor from there and did not return.
It’s unclear how long LaVine’s recovery will take, but it’s possible the injury may stretch into the beginning of next season.
LaVine was beginning to come into his own in his third season and first under Tom Thibodeau. He averaged nearly 19 points per game on 39 percent shooting from three-point range, though he’s struggled since returning from an unrelated hip injury in early January. He is eligible to sign a contract extension this summer.
The Timberwolves will likely shift Brandon Rush into the starting lineup in LaVine’s place, as they did for the two games LaVine missed with his hip problem. The Timberwolves won both of those games. Tyus Jones may also see more time in dual point guard lineups with Ricky Rubio or Kris Dunn.
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