This is what every team dreads during the exhibition season: an injury to a key player.

Timberwolves forward Wally Szczerbiak suffered a right midfoot sprain Wednesday night as new coach Dwane Casey's team lost 92-89 to the Milwaukee Bucks during Minnesota's exhibition opener at Target Center.

The extent of Szczerbiak's injury wasn't immediately known, but he is cautiously optimistic. He is scheduled to have an X-ray today.

"As long as there's no break or anything, I think it should be fine," said Szczerbiak, who was wearing a protective walking boot after the game. "Hopefully it's nothing big, but it's frustrating."

He was injured with about six minutes left in the third quarter when he landed on another player's foot. He limped off the court and did not return.

Before that bit of bad luck, Szczerbiak made four of five field-goal attempts en route to 11 points in 20 minutes. That's a nice start ? even if it is the preseason ? for a player who will be relied upon as the No. 2 scorer behind Kevin Garnett.