Wolves

Pekovic will play tonight

Wolves center Nikola Pekovic, who had surgery on his Achilles in April, will play tonight. It will mark his first NBA action since March 11, nearly 10 months ago.

By Kent Youngblood

January 6, 2016 at 11:44PM

Detroit Pistons' Greg Monroe, right, drives to the basket against Minnesota Timberwolves' Nikola Pekovic (14) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, in Auburn Hills, Mich. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

It's official. Wolves center Nikola Pekovic, who had surgery on his Achilles in April, will play tonight. It will mark his first NBA action since March 11, nearly 10 months ago.

"Hopefully he brings that size, that other big, that post defense, scoring inside," interim coach Sam Mitchell said. "But it's going to be a process. Pek hasn't played in about a year now. So we have to tone down our expectations.''

Pek probably won't play a lot. But should he return to the player he was before being hurt he would be a welcome addition to a Wolves team that, while athletic, has been outmuscled in a number of games this season.

"His size, that matters," Mitchell said. "You guys have watched us these 35 games. It matters. We're just not big physically. We're young and Pek is physically our most mature player.''

Meanwhile Kevin Martin will play tonight. Martin has missed seven straight games, according to Mitchell because of his sore wrist. But the wrist feels better and he should be back on the court, adding a much-needed deep shootin