NBA short takes

• Injured Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic acknowledged Thursday in Serbia what you probably already assumed: His playing days likely are done.

President since 2015 with Belgrade's Partizan club for which he once played, Pekovic also talked about his playing career during a club news conference. According to Eurohoops.net, he said: "I tried to do everything possible, but there are times when you simply can't. I cannot run without pain."

He was ruled out for this season before it ever started. Now a date to remember is Jan. 31. That's when he last played an NBA game last season.

According to the league's 2011 collective bargaining agreement, the Wolves could choose on or after the anniversary to apply for an injury-exclusion exception. If a physician jointly selected by the league and players' association determines Pekovic's recurring ankle pain is career-ending, they would get immediate salary-cap relief.

Pekovic still gets paid, but his $12.1 million salary on a five-year contract that expires in 2018 would be wiped from the team's cap figures. Combined with Kevin Garnett's expiring $8 million contract, the Wolves would gain significantly more space under a ballooning cap salary they could use to pursue free agents this summer and sign Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine to contract extensions.

Or, the Wolves could waive Pekovic this summer and spread the $11.6 million owed him in 2017-18 over the next three seasons.

• Garnett welcomed mentor Kevin McHale to his TNT "Area 21" set Thursday, and together they peered into the future of the low-post player, including Karl-Anthony Towns.