Love, Barea out, Pekovic in tonight vs. Pau and Lakers

Looks like a late scratch tonight at Target Center: Kevin Love is not in the starting lineup because of back spasms and a team spokesman says it's "doubtful" he will play.

That would make it two consecutive games without Love against the Lakers if he doesn't.

He missed last week's game in L.A. because of flu-like symptoms.

Nikola Pekovic will start tonight's "white-out" game against the Lakers at Target Center, but J.J. Barea also will not play either tonight or Saturday against New Orleans.

And Rick Adelman confirmed it before tonight's game: Pau Gasol in in the other team's locker room, not Adelman's.

The Twitterworld ran wild this after with a "report" that Gasol had been traded to a team unknown.

As soon as it hit, tweeps began messaging me, asking if Gasol would wear a Wolves uniform by game time.

"As far as I know," Adelman said. "If he was in this one, he might start."

Adelman's big concern remains a guy named Kobe, who scored 31 points against his team last week wearing that sweaty mask.

Talking about Wes Johnson and Martell Webster, Adelman said, "Those guys have to show they can at least make him work. We haven't done that. With him, it's just got to be a 48-minute battle, try to make him take tough shots, keep him off the line, try to wear him down as the game goes on. Don't get too over-aggressiv with him because that's when he really attacks you."

Barea worked out before tonight's game and said that sprained ankle feels much better, but isn't quite ready yet.