Wolves center Nikola Pekovic, who has missed six straight games with ankle bursitis, took some part in the Wolves' practice Thursday. But he still appears doubtful for Friday's game against the Lakers at Target Center.

"He did a little bit, yes," coach Rick Adelman said. "But there is nothing changed. We'll see how [he] feels tomorrow.''

That means Gorgui Dieng will likely get his seventh straight start and a chance for yet another double-double. Adelman said he does expect Pekovic back this season, and that there has been no talk of shutting him down. Indeed, Adelman said before Wednesday's victory over Atlanta that Pekovic had hoped to play this weekend. The Wolves play at Brooklyn Sunday.

Here are some other items from practice:

--Going forward, Adelman didn't sound like he wanted to keep a limit on Pekovic's minutes, should the big center be 100 percent healthy. There has been some talk that Pekovic would be better if his minutes were limited, perhaps under 30 a game. But Adelman doesn't sound like he totally buys into that idea. "This is something that's just come up," Adelman said. "I don't think you ever want to put a minutes limit on anybody, you know? He's big and he's strong and he plays hard all the time. So he's had some issues. But hopefully he's going to learn how to get through a season, 82 games, and not have these problems.''

--Adelman complimented Robbie Hummel on his play of late. Hummel came off the bench to score nine points Wednesday, all in the fourth quarter. Hummel hit two of three three-pointers to go with an assist and a steal. When Hummel is hitting his shots, Adelman likes the way he spreads the floor. Adelman said he'd like to see Hummel take more mid-range jumpers, something Hummel was very good at in college. "It doesn't matter if it's a two or a three, we just need for him to knock down shots," Adelman said. "But you never see him not give effort, you never see him not do what he can do.''

--Adelman liked the way Hummel and Chase Budinger – who also played the entire fourth quarter Wednesday, finishing the game with 12 points and seven rebounds – space the floor when they're both on their game.

That's about all for now. Have a good day. Jerry will be with the team tomorrow.