MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves took the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night but faced significant challenges due to injuries, particularly with three of their starters unavailable. Center Rudy Gobert joined the injured roster after suffering from lower-back spasms, marking the first time this season he’d been unable to play.

Point guard Mike Conley continues to be sidelined due to a sprained right index finger, missing his fourth consecutive game. Power forward Julius Randle has been absent for eight straight games following a strained right groin. Additionally, key bench player Donte DiVincenzo has not played for the last 16 games due to a sprained left big toe. Both Randle and DiVincenzo are expected to undergo evaluations during the upcoming All-Star break to assess their conditions.

In light of these injuries, Jaylen Clark made his debut as a starter for the Timberwolves in the small forward position against the Thunder, providing him with a prime opportunity to showcase his skills.

On the other side, the Thunder were also dealing with their own injury setbacks. They missed backup guard Alex Caruso due to tightness in his left hip. Starting guard Cason Wallace was out for a seventh game in a row due to a strained right shoulder, while forward Ousmane Dieng had his fifth consecutive absence because of a strained right soleus muscle located in his lower leg. Rookie guard Ajay Mitchell, who is recuperating from surgery on his right big toe, has been sidelined for 20 games.

Both teams grappled with the implications of these injuries as they sought to maintain competitive performances in the busy NBA schedule.