Second-year guard Rob Dillingham felt poised to take on a bigger role this season. After getting a DNP in the Minnesota Timberwolves' season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers, Dillingham again sat on the bench for most of the game against the Los Angeles Lakers. At the eight-minute mark of the fourth quarter, Chris Finch gave Dillingham an opportunity.
The Wolves were down 19, but these were genuine minutes for a young guard desperately trying to prove himself as he was playing alongside three starters. Unfortunately, though, he left the game with a bloody nose after just 30 seconds of court time. Dillingham took an elbow to the face from Deandre Ayton after making a nice defensive rotation.
After the game, it was confirmed that Dillingham unfortunately suffered a fractured nose. A timetable hasn't been announced, but based on precedent, it's fair to expect Dillingham will miss time. Just devastating stuff for the 20-year-old point guard.
Rob Dillingham fractured his nose on that play in the fourth. Finally got a chance and then that happened
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) October 25, 2025
Rob Dillingham's injury is an unfortunate setback
It's hard not to feel bad for Dillingham. The 2024 lottery pick barely played as a rookie, averaging 10.5 minutes, often not playing at all, and is seemingly still out of the Wolves' rotation despite a clear lack of point guard depth. When he finally got a chance, he immediately suffered an injury. Now he has another hurdle in his young career.
Even last year, Dillingham missed time at various points with an ankle injury.
Dillingham's talent is undeniable, and I believe he'll eventually become an impactful player. The 2024 lottery pick is a gifted below-the-rim finisher, with blazing speed, dazzling handles, and the ability to create for himself and others. In many ways, his skill set makes him perfect for a Wolves team that doesn't have much point guard depth. Still, finding opportunities for a slender 6-foot-1 guard on a team with championship hopes has proved to be challenging.
Barley playing in the first two games, to me, was always about the matchups. The Blazers' length and stifling ball pressure make them a difficult matchup for smaller guards. Friday's game against the Lakers ended up in a 128-110 loss for the Wolves. The Lakers don't have the perimeter defense that Portland does, but the Timberwolves struggled mightily on defense themselves.
At some point, I firmly believe that Dillingham will get an opportunity to play real minutes. The situation just has to be right for Finch to cut him loose. However, Dillingham's injury is another difficult setback. Everyone is hoping to see the promising guard back on the court as soon as possible.