An MRI performed Saturday morning revealed a radial head fracture in backup center Ronny Turiaf's right elbow. Turiaf will be re-evaluated next week to determine an approximate timetable for his return.
Turiaf was injured at the 10:17 mark of the second quarter of Friday's victory over Oklahame City when, off-balance, he crashed to the floor.
The good news is that surgery will not be needed. But Turiaf is likely out at least a few weeks.
And that will force Wolves coach Rick Adelman to shuffle some things in his rotation.
"Obviously G will get his chance," Adelman said of rookie center Gorgui Dieng, who was drafted by the Wolves with the 21st overall pick in the 2013 draft.
The post position, which looked so deep just a few days ago, is less so now. Turiaf, a vocal leader, was a valuable defender off the bench at the center position.
Now Adelman will have to use Dieng to back up starter Nikola Pekovic. Adelman said he will also slide Kevin Love into the five position more often as well, though he wants to avoid doing it too much.
"We don't want to do that as a consistent thing," Adelman said. "I like doing it at the end of games, because it forces (the opponent's) hand. Plus, you don't want him playing against guys who are going to attack him in the post. It's not his strong suit. … Hopefully Pak and G can do it. G was a little nervous (Friday) night. But he's played and he's done a decent job. I think the more he plays the better he'll be.''
