J.J Barea returns to the lineup tonight from that troublesome bruised thigh, and into the starting lineup at that now that Luke Ridnour is out because of that ankle sprained Monday night in Sacramento.

Michael Beasley and Darko! both are out as well tonight.

Not sure how much or how well Barea will play, but J.J. said this before tonight's game: "I'm good to go. I'm excited to be back. I'm not 100 percent. I still feel it, but I'm going to go out there and see what happens."

The Wolves still might need rookie Malcolm Lee to be an iron man if Barea's thigh fails him.

Lee was the last man standing at point guard Monday night when Ridnour went down late in the third quarter and had to play the entire fourth quarter.

Beasley is aiming to return on Saturday in New Orleans from that sprained big toe he first injured March 12 in Phoenix.

As for Darko?

Well, he still apparently has that hamstring injury he somehow hurt working out.

When Beasley asked him in the locker room before tonight's game if he was playing, Darko shrugged no and told him, "I'm not playing anyway."

Adelman said judging by how swollen Ridnour's ankle was Tuesday and how discolored it is today, he said he doesn't expect Ridnour to play for at least a week.