Getty

Former Bulls guard

Dynamic guard Ayo Dosunmu is set to return from a two-game absence in tonight’s San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Game 2.

After sitting out Game 6 of the first-round series against the Denver Nuggets, Dosunmu also missed Game 1 against the Spurs on Monday with right calf soreness. The Timberwolves initially listed him as questionable for “injury maintenance” in the lead-up to the game, before upgrading him to available a few hours before tip-off.

Ayo Dosunmu Injury: Terrence Shannon Steps Up

In Dosunmu’s absence, second-year guard Terrence Shannon logged 35 minutes in back-to-back games, averaging an impressive 20.0 points and 5.5 rebounds for Chris Finch’s team. With Anthony Edwards (bone bruise) coming off the bench in Game 1 against the Spurs, Shannon produced 16 points in a starting role, just a few nights after his breakout performance against the Denver Nuggets when he dropped 24 points in the series clincher.

After Shannon put the NBA world on notice in Game 6 vs. the Nuggets, Finch praised the second-year guard for seizing his opportunity in Dosunmu’s absence.

“We’ve learned with TJ, he’s got to have the ball in his hands,” Finch said, via The News-Gazette.

“Silly me, we played him out of the corner most of the season,” Finch continued. “But he’s way better with the ball in his hands at the top of the floor. I thought he’d give us a boost. I didn’t realize it would be like this — not just with his scoring, but I think he made a lot of emotional energy plays that got the crowd into it. He played with force. He let it be known that he was going to be reckoned with.”

Terrence Shannon Attacks Wemby

After his 24-point performance against the Nuggets, Shannon produced another highlight-worthy moment in Game 1 against the Spurs when he nearly posterized Victor Wembanyama during a straight-line drive to the rim. Shannon also relentlessly attacked Wemby throughout the game, earning the praise of his teammates.

“He’s going to have to block it every time,” Shannon said of attacking Wemby.

“I ain’t going to stop going downhill. I told him that when he said a little something after he blocked my second one. He’s going to have to block it every time. I know he ain’t going to block it every single time. I’m going to dunk on him.”

Many analysts feel that the Timberwolves, up 1-0 in the series, could push the Spurs to the brink with a healthy Ayo Dosunmu back in the rotation. Dosunmu averaged 21.8 points and 4.0 assists in the first round against the Nuggets, including an epic 43-point performance in Game 4 that swung the series in Minnesota’s favor.

The Timberwolves are massive 9.5-point underdogs entering tonight’s Game 2. However, they were also underdogs entering Game 1.