Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic traveled with the team to Portland and did his first court work in days before tonight's game against the Blazers, but he will not play.

Also, Darko Milicic is not on the trip because of what the team says is a hamstring injury.

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Pekovic said he's hopeful he can play Monday in Sacramento, but Rick Adelman said he didn't expect Pekovic would play on the trip.

He said the team brought Pekovic along because trainers felt it was better to have him along working out before games under their supervision than to stay at home.

Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge is expected to play after missing Friday's loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles because of a sprained elbow.

He will start next to J.J. Hickson in the frontcourt because center Joel Przybilla is out with a sprained knee.

This will be the eight game in the last nine that Pekovic has missed because of his hurting ankles.