Injury Analysis: Preseason Notes

Kevin Love

With Ricky Rubio already slated to miss at least the first month of the season, the injury to Love's right hand is a significant setback for a team hoping to make the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. Love suffered fractures to his third and fourth metacarpal bones while performing knuckle pushups. Fractures of the fourth metacarpal are often referred to as a Boxer's fracture as they normally occur following a closed fist striking a hard object. Knuckle pushups, like the ones Love was performing, generate similar forces, loading an axial force through the bones of the hand. The force of the pushup caused the bones to break, likely at the neck of the metacarpal were it is most fragile. Fortunately for Love and the Timberwolves, the bones did not displace, meaning surgery will not be required.


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