Terrence Shannon Jr. rounding back into form

Perhaps the silver lining of the Timberwolves’ close loss to the Thunder on Wednesday was what it meant for Terrence Shannon Jr.

The second-year forward has had a tough start to a season that he entered with big expectations to be the eighth man in the Wolves’ rotation. But Shannon said he injured his left small toe in the preseason, and he tried to play through it.

That wasn’t productive for him, the team or the injury.

Shannon played in the first seven games and didn’t look much like himself. The player known for his vicious style and way of attacking the rim without hesitation wasn’t present. He averaged just 3.9 points before he got an MRI on the injury, revealing a bone bruise. He then sat out the next nine games.

“It was bothering me in the beginning, but I sat out, got it handled, taken care of, now we’re good,” Shannon said. “... Pretty sure if anybody got a bone bruise on their foot, it’ll hurt and affect the way they play. It is what it is. I’m here now.”

On Wednesday, he was what everyone envisioned he could be. He was attacking the rim, he was hitting shots, and he scored 18 points on 7-for-7 shooting.

“It was great to see a total return to form there,” coach Chris Finch said. “We know that’s who he can be for us. Whether it was getting out in transition before anything was set up, or just playing off the catch, playing really quick. We feel like he can be a double-digit scorer off the bench for sure.”

“He’s a tireless worker. I think he gets confidence and comfort from all the work that he puts in, like outside of practice, and there’s a ton of it,” Finch said. “I think some of that work led to the injury. So even before that was coming, we had to dial back some of the work. He probably lost some of that mojo that he gets from doing all that work.”

There’s no matchup quite like the Thunder for Shannon to get his “mojo” back. Shannon averages 13.8 points per game against Oklahoma City, more than any team he has faced in his young career.

“I don’t like ’em. I don’t like OKC,” Shannon said. “That ain’t the reason I play [aggressively]. I just happened to find my rhythm, continue to find my rhythm. It just was what it was. I was just aggressive and let the game come to me.”

Why doesn’t he like the Thunder? It’s nothing personal.

“They beat us, ever since I came to the NBA, so what would I like them for?” he said.

On defense, he has to limit his fouling. But his ability to play fast fits in with how they want to play in transition, and the Wolves want him to stay aggressive, especially now that he’s healthy.