DALLAS (AP) -- Minnesota starting center Nikola Pekovic has left the Timberwolves' game against Dallas with a sprained left ankle and will not return.

Pekovic fell to the ground with 2:46 left in the third quarter Monday night and limped off the floor with the help of team trainers. The 6-foot-11 center scored 20 points before leaving.

Already without Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio for the early part of the season, the short-handed Timberwolves dressed only 10 players against the Mavericks.

Chase Budinger sustained a left knee injury Saturday and will have surgery. Brandon Roy (sore right knee) missed his second game in a row and fellow guard J.J. Barea (left foot sprain) was out for a third straight contest.