Wolves aim to have everyone healthy for season opener

In the midst of a weeklong schedule break, the Timberwolves have gone back to the basics during daily practices between last Friday's preseason victory over Philadelphia and this Friday's game against Milwaukee in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Coach Flip Saunders, though, has been careful not to term it a second training camp because he's been careful not to give it the same grueling nature as camp's two-a-day practices.

The objective now, given the NBA's current landscape, is to keep his players healthy until the season opener in Memphis 13 days hence.

Washington already has lost young star guard Bradley Beal for six weeks because of a broken wrist and Oklahoma City will play without superstar Kevin Durant for the next six to eight weeks because of a fractured foot.

That's why Saunders and the Wolves have been cautious with starting shooting guard Kevin Martin's groin adductor muscles and Shabazz Muhammad's heel tendinitis.

Saunders suggested NBA teams should look at their monthlong preseason like NFL teams do: Mainly, just be sure that nobody gets hurt.

"You get one guy hurt, whether it's a Durant or a Beal, and it changes your whole team's outlook on what your vision is, what your goals are and how you want to play," Saunders said.

Muhammad wore a protective boot Wednesday for the second consecutive day, even though Saunders said Muhammad felt good enough to practice. The team's medical staff decided to be cautious and give him a couple extra days to be sure the matter is fully resolved.

Saunders said he expects Muhammad to practice on Thursday and suggested he could play in Sunday's game against Oklahoma City in Tulsa, Okla., if his heel feels well enough to get more practice time Friday and Saturday.

Martin participated in what he called 80 percent of Wednesday's workout. If he responds well and feels good Thursday, he could play Friday, just in time for the bulk of the team's preseason schedule. The Wolves play five games in eight days starting Friday.

"It's a tricky injury," Martin said, "but it felt like I was good."

Martin suffered the same kind of injury to start a season early in his career. That injury took five weeks to heal completely. He has been sidelined fewer than two weeks so far this time around.

"Messing with a groin and adductor can be a tricky, lingering injury and that's one thing we didn't want to happen."

Martin was injured late during training camp week in Mankato when he reached to make a steal and pulled muscles while doing so.

"I know, man, that's what I'm saying," Martin said with a grin when told that's what he gets for exerting himself defensively.

With five preseason games left, Martin, 31, said there's still plenty of time to play himself into regular-season shape and accustom himself to new teammates.

"I had a pretty good camp, but I still feel like there are a couple more levels I need to go to before opening night," he said.