Wolves' Love Sidelined By Bruised Left Quadriceps
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — All-Star forward Kevin Love missed Minnesota's game against Portland because of a bruised left quadriceps, and starting point guard Kevin Martin also was out Saturday night because of a broken left thumb that will sideline him indefinitely.
During halftime, Love told The Associated Press he would receive treatment Saturday night and hoped to play Monday night against Houston.
"I knew that my quad was bothering me pretty bad so I went out there and tried to move around a little bit and it just wasn't quite right," Love said.
Love limped noticeably a couple hours earlier, but the team didn't announce he would miss the game until just before tipoff. Earlier, he told reporters he took a knee from New Orleans' Greg Steimsma on Friday night in Minnesota's road loss.
Before the injury was announced, Love — averaging 25.6 points and 13.3 rebounds — said he had no plans of skipping the All-Star game.
"There was a number of things that happened late in the fourth quarter, getting back late last night, traveling and then just not getting enough treatment before tonight," Love said. "So we'll just get back and do some more treatment tonight get in tomorrow and then hopefully be ready Monday night."
Martin was hurt Friday in the closing minutes of the Timberwolves' 98-91 loss. X-rays taken Saturday morning revealed the fracture. Martin is averaging 19 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 32.3.
The Timberwolves also are without starting center Nikola Pekovic. He's sidelined by bursitis in his right ankle. All three players were in street clothes behind the bench.
"That's like making up 60 points there and a number of rebounds and a lot of firepower," Love said. "So we just need to get everybody back quickly as we can and I think I'll probably be the first."
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