Andrew Wiggins might want to get ready to take a few more shots starting with tonight’s game against the New York Knicks at Target Center.
Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune reports more than the sprained wrist Nikola Pekovic suffered in Saturday’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks is hurting him. He’s also bothered by the same bursa sac ankle pain that limited his time on the court last season. He’ll miss at least three games this week – maybe more.
Pekovic will be re-evaluated by a doctor early next week with the hope to resume playing soon after.
“Of course, it’s just the beginning of the season, of course it’s disappointing,” Pekovic said. “But it’s more disappointing when you try to do something and you just can’t. When you’re in pain, you make more damage than you can help your team. That’s more disappointing that just sitting on the side…It’s better to sit, take a few days off, try to heal everything as much as I can and then try to come back and play how I can play.”
Pekovic’s absence adds to an already short-handed roster that includes Ricky Rubio (out for up to two months with a severely sprained left ankle) and Thaddeus Young (will miss the rest of this week after the death of his mother).
Four of five of Minnesota’s starters against the Knicks will be rookies or second-year players: Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and Gorgui Dieng. Kevin Martin is the only veteran starter.
By the way, if Wiggins shoots more it might not be a bad thing. NBA writer Zach Lowe pointed out a few comparisons to Carmelo Anthony.
