LaVine: 'Making progess' with hip, but out vs. Thunder

Wolves guard Zach LaVine ran and shot some at shootaround today, but will not suit tonight for the Wolves vs. Thunder

January 14, 2017 at 12:27AM
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8) (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

UPDATE, 6:25 p.m.:

Zach LaVine shot a little and worked on the bands and stretching in a Target Center corridor before the game, but he'll be inactive for the second consecutive game because of that left hip contusion.

His most likely return dates are Sunday afternoon at Dallas or Tuesday at San Antonio.

Brandon Rush again will start in LaVine's shooting-guard spot.

END THE UPDATE

Zach LaVine said he ran some and shot a little at this morning and said he'd test his hurting hip later today and in warmups before he'll decide if he plays against Russell Westbrook and Oklahoma City tonight.

"Making progress the last couple days," he said. "Just going to keep after it. I've been in the gym nonstop trying to get it better. I'll come back tonight and see how it feels."

He bruised his hip late in the third quarter of Monday's victory over Dallas and said "an elbow and a body ran into it. Just a hip pointer. They're pretty painful. My dad used to me about in football all the time."

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The Wolves started Brandon Rush in his place Wednesday against Oklahoma City.

Asked how he's treating the injury, LaVine said, "Ice, get it loose, give it time to heal. It's in my abdomen almost, a little bruise there. You use your abdomen for everything. It's a little painful. I'm fighting through it when I shoot."

I'd expect they'll give it at least one more game to heal with games coming up Sunday at Dallas and Tuesday at San Antonio, but I'll blog again before tonight's game when we know more.

about the writer

about the writer

Jerry Zgoda

Reporter

Jerry Zgoda covers Minnesota United FC and Major League Soccer for the Minnesota Star Tribune.

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