Timberwolves’ Kevin Love breaks hand again

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love, left, and Denver Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov (25), from Russia, eye a loose ball during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, in Denver. Photo: Jack Dempsey / AP

MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love has broken a bone in his right hand, the same hand that was broken during the NBA pre-season.

An MRI exam on Saturday showed a break in the third metacarpal — one of the two bones that he broke during the pre-season in October, when Love said he was hurt doing push-ups on his knuckles as part of his training regimen.

The most recent injury to his shooting hand apparently occurred during the third quarter of Thursday’s 101-97 victory over the Nuggets in Denver.

The team had initially thought Love had just suffered a sprain.

The Timberwolves said Love’s injury will be evaluated later this week by New York hand specialist Andy Weiland.

Then they’ll know more about how long they’ll be without Love, who leads the team in scoring with 18.3 points per game and in rebounding with 14 per game.