Timberwolves lose Dieng to facial contusion vs. Pelicans

Minnesota Timberwolves sophomore center Gorgui Dieng was forced to leave Sunday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans after just nine minutes due to a facial contusion. 

The woefully undermanned Timberwolves can scarcely afford another injury. Not because they have anything at stake (save for lottery odds) in the last nine games of the season, but because they're running out of ways to even field a playable roster. 

Last Thursday, they signed Sean Kilpatrick to a 10-day contract for the simple reason that he was close enough to make it to their game that night, allowing them to dress the requisite eight players.  

To this point, Dieng is one of just two Timberwolves (along with rookie Andrew Wiggins) to have played in every game this season.