Terrence Shannon Jr. was a late addition to Minnesota's injury report Friday, then cleared to play just over six hours before tipoff. The Timberwolves listed Shannon as questionable for Game 6 in Minnesota because of a head contusion at 12:54 p.m. ET, but announced at 7:10 p.m. that he would be active that night.
The timing mattered because Shannon has become part of Chris Finch's rotation at the moment Minnesota needed him most. After averaging 12.5 minutes per game across 43 regular-season appearances, he was buried under multiple DNP-CDs to open the playoffs before breaking through with 24 points in nearly 35 minutes in Minnesota's close-out game against Denver in the first round. That performance pushed him into a bigger role, and he delivered again against San Antonio, averaging 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 25.0 minutes across five games, including two starts.
His efficiency against the Spurs, however, showed why the Timberwolves still need more than energy and minutes from him. Shannon made 14 of 48 shots from the floor in the series, a 29.2% mark, and hit only 3 of 17 from three-point range, or 17.6%. Even so, Minnesota trailed the Spurs 3-2 and had to win at home Friday night to force a Game 7 on Sunday.
The late injury update carried a familiar tone for a player who has been on the report often this season. One basketball reporter noted that it rarely bodes well for a player's availability when he is added so close to tipoff, though in this case the team moved quickly to say Shannon would be active. The contradiction was simple: Minnesota needed him on the floor, and by evening it said he would be there.
For the Timberwolves, the next step was not subtle. Beat San Antonio at home and extend the series. Lose, and Shannon's return to the lineup would be remembered as a footnote to a season that ended one game too soon.
