Rob Dillingham’s first chance of the season ends in heartbreaking fashion

Sophomore guard Rob Dillingham felt ready to take on a bigger role this season. After earning a DNP in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers, Dillingham was once again benched for most of the game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Eight minutes into the fourth quarter, Chris Finch gave Dillingham a chance.

Wolves were 19 down, but these were real minutes for a young guard desperately trying to prove himself while playing alongside three starters. Unfortunately, he left the match after just 30 seconds of playing time with a nosebleed. Dillingham was elbowed in the face by Deandre Ayton after a nice defensive rotation.

After the match it was confirmed that Dillingham unfortunately suffered a broken nose. No timetable has been announced yet, but based on precedent, it’s reasonable to expect Dillingham to be sidelined for several weeks. Just devastating things for the 20-year-old point guard.

Rob Dillingham’s injury is an unfortunate setback

It’s hard not to feel sorry for Dillingham. The 2024 lottery pick barely played as a rookie, averaged 10.5 minutes, often didn’t play at all, and is seemingly still out of the Wolves’ rotation despite a distinct lack of point guard depth. When he finally got a chance, he immediately suffered an injury. Now he faces a new hurdle in his young career.

Last year, Dillingham missed time at several points with an ankle injury.

Dillingham’s talent is undeniable, and I believe he will ultimately become a high-impact player. The 2024 lottery pick is a gifted player who finishes below the rim, with lightning speed, dazzling handles and the ability to create for himself and others. In many ways, his skillset makes him perfect for a Wolves team that doesn’t have much point guard depth. Still, finding opportunities for a rangy, 6-foot-1 guard on a team with championship hopes has proven to be a challenge.

Playing Barley in the first two games was always about the matchups for me. The Blazers’ length and suffocating ball pressure make them a tough matchup for smaller guards. Friday’s game against the Lakers ended in a 128-110 loss for the Wolves. The Lakers don’t have the perimeter defense that Portland does, but the Timberwolves struggled on defense themselves.

At some point I’m convinced Dillingham will get a chance to play real minutes. The situation just has to be right for Finch to be able to let him go. However, Dillingham’s injury is another difficult setback. Everyone hopes to see the promising guard back on the field as soon as possible.