The injury-plagued Clippers held on in their 80-point loss to Minnesota

The Clippers’ story on Wednesday night was their list of injured players. But even without four key players, the Clippers had no choice but to continue on against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Intuit Dome.

The problem was that the Timberwolves pushed back harder and led by as many as 41 points in a 108-80 win.

Playing seven games in 11 days hasn’t helped the Clippers overcome their injury woes.

Kawhi Leonard has yet to play this season as his right knee recovers. He was joined on the bench Wednesday by Terance Mann, Norman Powell, Kevin Porter Jr. and Kobe Brown.

The Clippers said Mann has a broken left middle finger and will undergo surgery Thursday and be reevaluated in three weeks. Brown has a herniated disc in his back and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Porter missed his third straight game with a sprained left ankle and Powell, the Clippers’ leading scorer (23.9 points per game), rested after playing two straight games – including the night before – after missing the previous six games due to a left hamstring injury.

“In our mindset, we want to play hard every night and compete defensively no matter who is on the field,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said before the game. “That has to be our staple every night and that’s what our team has given us in the first (23) games so far. And so the next guy in the rotation, the next guy, will come in and do the same thing. So nothing really changes.”

Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. drives to the basket in front of Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert during the first half on Wednesday.

(Eric Thayer/Associated Press)

The Clippers (14-10) knew from the start that it would be a long night.

They held their score to 14 points in the first quarter while shooting just 27.3% from the field and 15.4% (two for 13) from three-point range. They scored 32 points in the first half, for an overall shooting percentage of 28.6% and a three-point shooting percentage of 21.7%.

Meanwhile, the Clippers gave up 33 points in the first quarter. Minnesota shot 54.2% from the field and 46.7% (seven for 15) on three-pointers. Forward Julius Randle scored 16 of his 20 points in the quarter.

James Harden missed his first eight attempts, four of which were three-pointers. He scored his first points with two free throws towards the end of the second quarter. He made his first field goal on a three-pointer with 6 minutes and 21 seconds left in the third period.

He finished his night shooting 1-for-10 from the field and 1-for-6 from three-point range, scoring a season-low five points with a 22.3 average.

Backup guard Bones Hyland led the Clippers with 18 points.