Web Editorial Associate Dane Mizutani also contributed to this report.
After months of waiting, the Minnesota Timberwolves might just be getting two of their best players back.
It’s far from a guarantee, but there’s a slight chance that both Kevin Martin (wrist) and Nikola Pekovic (wrist) could return on Wednesday night against the Dallas Mavericks.
Right now, it appears as if Martin is the closest to returning, as he hinted at Tuesday’s practice that he could have returned during the team’s four-game road trip.
“Yeah, there’s a chance (I could play),” Martin said. “There was a chance on this last road trip but it didn’t feel right. Hopefully it feels right tomorrow.”
Martin said that he’ll see how he feels when he wakes up on Wednesday before making a decision. Pekovic, on the other hand, said the ball is in head coach Flip Saunders’ court to make a decision, although he still is in a bit of pain. Something that has become normal for him.
“It feels better,” Pekovic said. “… That’s coach’s decision.”
The Wolves could certainly use both players. Players like Andrew Wiggins, Mo Williams and Gorgui Dieng have had to carry a lot of load for the Wolves as of late. Martin hasn’t played since Nov. 19, while Pekovic has been out since Nov. 15. Even if the team can get 15-20 minutes out of one of the players, that would go a long way.
Fan-favorite Ricky Rubio (ankle) has been out since Nov. 7, but has been with the team as of late, taking part in drills, something that Saunders said has benefitted the team immensely. While Rubio won’t be playing tomorrow, there was some good news regarding Rubio at today’s practice. Rubio took part in live-contact drills for the first time since suffering his injury.
Make sure to check back in for updates on Martin and Pekovic throughout the day tomorrow.
ROOKIE ON A ROLL
As one of the most-hyped prospects since LeBron James, the one knock on Andrew Wiggins coming into the NBA was that he was too passive.
Was he a guy that could be a No. 1 option? Was he a guy that could actually take over a game? Was he a guy that could be a legitimate star in the NBA?
Wiggins has emphatically answered those questions over the past month or so. He’s averaging 21.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists over his last 10 games — and maybe more importantly — has shown he can take over. Wiggins willed his team to a win last week as he snapped off for a career-high 31 points in a 113-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
“He’s above where we thought he would be right now,” Flip Saunders said. “There haven’t been very many rookies that have gone a 15-game stretch averaging 21 points per game and been in a situation where they’re taking the other teams best defensive player and taking both ends of the floor. ... He’s exceeded [our expectations].”
Wiggins said the game against James and the Cleveland Cavaliers was a turning point for him. He scored 27 points, and while the Wolves fell 125-104 at the hands of the Cavaliers, something seemed to click after that game.
“I remember one of the coaches told me any player can do it one night and a great player does it every night,” Wiggins said. “That really stuck in my head and really motivated me to go out every night and try and do what I did in that game.”
Martin has watched the growth from afar as he’s missed the last month or so with a wrist injury. He said he never had any doubts that Wiggins would reach this level.
“It’s like I said from Day 1,” Martin said. “I knew he was going to be something special. It’s going to be fun getting back out there playing with him.”
Wiggins said while he might have surprised the coaches and some of his teammates with his recent success, he hasn’t surprised himself.
“Surprised?” Wiggins said. “No. I’ve always been confident in myself. I just needed to figure out how to do it at the NBA level. It’s way different in college and high school and stuff like that.”