Wiggins feeling ill, Adrien arrives in Portland

An ailing Andrew Wiggins is expected to play in Portland tonight for the Timberwolves, who also added Jeff Adrien for frontcourt experience and strength

December 1, 2014 at 2:02AM
Minnesota Timberwolves� Andrew Wiggins, left, makes his way around San Antonio Spurs� Kawhi Leonard in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Nov. 21, 2014, in Minneapolis. The Spurs won 121-92.
Minnesota Timberwolves� Andrew Wiggins, left, makes his way around San Antonio Spurs� Kawhi Leonard in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Nov. 21, 2014, in Minneapolis. The Spurs won 121-92. (Jim Mone — Associated Press - Ap/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Just when the Wolves add one healthy player, another gets sick.

Rookie Andrew Wiggins has been ill all day, getting IVs because of apparently a virus that's been going around. He was in the locker room 45 minutes before game time, wearing his warmups, but never looking too clever.

Flip Saunders called him "literally" a game time decision for tonight's game at Portland.

He's in the initial starting lineup and plans to warm up and see how he feels, but I expect he'll try to play.

If he can't, Saunders said Shabazz Muhammad will get the call at small forward.

Meanwhile, newcomer Jeff Adrien arrived in Portland late Saturday night and said he's ready to play as much as Saunders asks.

He was in the locker room pre-game studying on the computer with one of the Wolves' video experts.

Saunders said they had looked around at a limited supply of big guys and chose Adrien, who played 53 games with Milwaukee and Charlotte last year, because he has NBA experience and the kind of strength and toughness the injury-depleted team needs.

Saunders acknowledged Adrien's arrival is an indication that Nikola Pekovic won't be back in game shape for at least 10 days or two weeks probably, best case.

about the writer

about the writer

Jerry Zgoda

Reporter

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

See Moreicon

More from Sports

See More
card image