In the aftermath of suffering a right quad contusion against Indiana last week, Andrew Wiggins sat relaxed at his locker, declaring the injury would be fine.
"This is nothing," Wiggins said. "Just a little bruise. I'll be good."
It seemed as if Wiggins was on track to play in the Wolves' next game against the Raptors, but then he didn't. Then he might play Friday against the Bucks. Then he didn't.
The injury has nagged Wiggins to the point that he was still a game-time decision for Monday's game against the Lakers at Target Center. After seeming optimistic that he would suit up, Wiggins ended up sitting out again, the third consecutive game he has missed nursing the injury.
"It's a thing that lingers around a little bit, but it gets better over a period of time. Something you don't really want to rush back," Wiggins said after shootaround. "You don't want it to get worse or anything, so just taking my time and trying to get it right."
Wiggins originally took himself out of the game against the Pacers because he felt the injury was going to limit him on the floor and cause him to hurt the team.
"Everyone does different things on the court, so I have to look at it as what type of player am I? How does it affect what I do?" Wiggins said. "Attacking the basket, cutting, pushing off one leg, different things, so just seeing what works for me and how it affects me."
In the three full games he played before the injury, Wiggins averaged 20 points and four rebounds per game. Rookie Josh Okogie got the start in Wiggins' place again. Okogie finished with a career-high 17 points on 6-for-13 shooting, four rebounds, three assists and three steals in 17 minutes.
