Suns' Devin Booker, Wolves' Jeff Teague, Nemanja Bjelica out for today's game

Timberwolves players Jeff Teague and Nemanja Bjelica will miss their second consecutive game today against Phoenix at Target Center.

November 26, 2017 at 8:29PM
Wolves guard Jeff Teague (pictured, 0) and forward Nemanja Bjelica will miss their second consecutive game today against Phoenix at Target Center.
Wolves guard Jeff Teague (pictured, 0) and forward Nemanja Bjelica will miss their second consecutive game today against Phoenix at Target Center. (Brian Wicker — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Wolves starting point guard Jeff Teague and backup forward Nemanja Bjelica will miss their second consecutive game each this afternoon against Phoenix at Target Center.

Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker, front, is fouled by Minnesota Timberwolves' Zach LaVine during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 14, 2016, in Phoenix. The Suns won 107-104. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Suns, in turn, will play without young star Devin Booker, who is both their best scorer (22.5 ppg) and playmaker (4.2 apg).

Teague said he started to feel soreness in his right Achilles late in Wednesday's home victory over Orlando and it persisted for Friday's loss to Miami and today against the Suns.

Asked before the game if it's painful, he said, "Just annoying," and added that's it better to be careful with such a delicate thing as an Achilles.

Tyus Jones will start at point guard this time, after Aaron Brooks started Friday's game.

The Suns will start No. 4 overall pick Josh Jackson in the backcourt with Tyler Ulis now that Booker is out.

Bjelica's left mid-foot sprain is the the same foot on which he had surgery last March.

Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said the team has consulted with the surgeon who performed Bjelica's surgery and said he isn't concerned that the sprain is related or a recurrence.

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"He's good," Thibodeau said about Bjelica, "but you just want to make sure."

Booker and teammate TJ Warren each scored 35 points when the Suns beat the Wolves in Phoenix two weeks ago, thanks to a late 14-0 run.

A former Kentucky teammate of Karl-Anthony Towns, Booker missed just one game last season, but it was because of the same big toe inflammation that will keep him out of the lineup today.

That big toe a year ago bothered Booker for about a month, so he's sitting today hopeful that the condition will be resolved and won't linger like it did a year ago.

theyre getting closer but im not sure they're there yet

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about the writer

Jerry Zgoda

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Jerry Zgoda covers Minnesota United FC and Major League Soccer for the Minnesota Star Tribune.

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