Injuries are creating huge problems for the Minnesota Timberwolves.  

They?ve already lost Terrell Brandon with a bad knee.

And Joe Smith (groin pull), Wally Szczerbiak (dislocated toe), Randy Livingston (ankle sprain) and Troy Hudson (groin pull) also are unavailable or only to do limited practice.

Now Felipe Lopez is gone for the season.

Steve Aschburner of the Star Tribune reports that Lopez suffered tears to the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee in a collision with Boston guard Paul Pierce.

Lopez is in the last year of his contract.  He worked hard this summer and had been having a good training camp.  Coach Flip Saunders said, ?Personally, [I] feel terrible because he's worked so hard.  He's had a great camp. We've been able to play him at a lot of different positions.?

Saunders suggested that the NBA might want to schedule fewer preseason games -- most teams play seven or eight -- and not book them a mere week after training camps open.  Amen.