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- The Timberwolves will only have 10 players in uniform, including point guard J.J. Barea (left mid-foot sprain), who dressed but was unable to play Sunday in a 105-88 loss at Memphis. “He may try to play tonight, but I don’t know if he’s going to be serviceable,” Minnesota coach Rick Adelman said. “We’ve got to be careful, too, because with a foot injury, you don’t want to make it worse.” Adelman added that Barea will decide whether he is healthy enough to play a handful of minutes, based on how his foot feels after warming up with his teammates.
- Timberwolves small forwards Andrei Kirilenko (right quadriceps strain) and Chase Budinger (left knee surgery), power forward Kevin Love (right hand surgery), shooting guard Brandon Roy (right knee surgery), and point guard Malcolm Lee (season-ending right knee and right hip surgery) are all out. Kirilenko has been sidelined since being hurt on Feb. 4 against Portland, but Adelman said he should return after the NBA All-Star break. “It’s not just the people we’re losing, it’s the quality of that players we’re losing,” the coach said.
- Minnesota’s starting lineup is point guard Ricky Rubio, shooting guard Luke Ridnour, small forward Mickael Gelabale, power forward Derrick Williams, and center Nikola Pekovic. The Timberwolves, who are making their first appearance at Quicken Loans Arena since Dec. 26, 2010, are 2-15 since Jan. 9.
- The Cavaliers are starting All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving, shooting guard Dion Waiters, small forward Alonzo Gee, power forward Tristan Thompson, and center Tyler Zeller. Cleveland is playing its third home game in four nights, previously beating Orlando (Friday) and losing to Denver (Saturday).
- Irving and Cavaliers coach Byron Scott will face off in a 3-point contest at practice Tuesday. Irving, who is shooting .429 beyond the arc, will compete in the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend. “He’s been talking a lot of trash, but I think I’ve got a good shot at beating him,” Scott said.
– Brian Dulik
