Shved, Pekovic out for tonight's game vs. Brooklyn

The Wolves will remain without both guard Alexey Shved and starting center Nikola Pekovic for tonight's game against a Brooklyn team that has won 11 of 13 games since Avery Johnson was fired and P.J. Carlesimo took over as head coach.

Shved remains out with that sprained ankle sustained in last Thursday's loss to the Clippers.

So does Pekovic, who bruised his thigh in that same game.

That means the Wolves again will start Greg Stiemsma in Pekovic's spot and once again basically will play with three guards, with Ricky Rubio, Luke Ridnour and J.J. Barea being the only healthy ones left against a Brooklyn team that will throw that big Joe Johnson-Deron Williams backcourt at them.

A couple other things:

* Barea said he will meet with Wolves boss David Kahn this afternoon to discuss whether he can appeal that $5,000 fine handed down by the NBA for his second flopping infraction of the season, staggering back against Roddy Beaubois' forearm shiver in a Jan. 14 game at Dallas.

"I'm not worried about that, that's small stuff," Barea said. "I'm worried about winning games and making this team better."

"I changed the way I've played, all season, since the beginning," Barea said. "I'm not going down to the floor like I used to, but now if they push, it's an offensive foul. That play that they're talking about, the ref was right in front and he saw him pushing. So we'll talk to the NBA and see how that goes."

On that play getting flagged, he said, "I was surprised, the way every game in the NBA is playing. I'm surprised with that one, but it happens."

* Did you see Memphis signed D Leaguer Chris Johnson to a 10-day contract.

Not that Chris Johnson, the other one.

"No, I'm here for 10 days," said Wolves center Chris Johnson, who tonight will play his third game with the Wolves on a 10-day contract he signed Saturday.

"There are too many Chris Johnsons in this world," he said. "There are a couple in the NFL, too."