Rubio out for Wolves Friday night vs. Kings

UPDATE: Ricky Rubio will NOT play tonight, the Wolves announced about 35 minutes before tipoff in Sacramento. He is still dealing with soreness in his left ankle. The Wolves say Rubio wanted to play, but is being held out as a precaution.

The Wolves just wrapped up morning shootaround in Sacramento and interim head coach Sam Mitchell said he won't know until pre-game warmups whether either starting point guard Ricky Rubio or reserve forward Nemanja Bjelica will play.

Rubio did not play down the stretch of Wednesday's home victory over Atlanta because his left ankle was hurting. Yes, that's the same ankle that caused him to miss much of last season and that required surgery in April. Wolves call it "soreness" in their injury report.

Bjelica has missed the last three games because of a knee contusion.

"I wish I did know," Wolves interim coach Sam Mitchell said. "It would help me make a game plan if I knew who was playing, but that would be too easy, wouldn't it?"

If Rubio can't play -- and you can be sure the team will be cautious with him at this point -- that'll leave a tough test at the point for Zach LaVine against Rajon Rondo, who has four triple-double already this season and is playing like his old self for George Karl.

The Kings list star center DeMarcus Cousins as doubtful -- a term they define as less than a 25 percent chance of playing -- for tonight's game at Sleep Train Arena.

"They're a different basketball team when DeMarcus plays," Mitchell said. "Obviously, a guy scoring 28, 29 a game, he's a great player. He can play inside and outside. I mean, he's third on the team in three-point attempts and he makes them. So it's not just like he's taking them. When you look at what he does, he's probably the most complete offensive center in the game."

One other thing:

* Injured center Nikola Pekovic ran some sprints along the baseline after shootaround. The team said he started light running a few weeks ago, but this was first time I've seen him getting up and down.