The Timberwolves on Wednesday sent Al Jefferson home to Minnesota, where he will recuperate for Wednesday’s regular-season opener while his team plays its final two preseason games without him.
Jefferson flew home from Detroit the morning after he wore a medical mask on the chartered flight from Denver after Tuesday’s 129-100 loss there so he wouldn’t further risk infecting his teammates.
Jefferson stayed back at the team’s hotel Tuesday night when the Wolves played the Nuggets without him or Kevin Love, who is in New York City awaiting an important checkup Friday following Tuesday’s surgery to repair his fractured left hand.
From Matthew Hayden/Bleacher Report: 2009-2010 NBA Awards: Timberwolves Edition
Happy birthday: Pro Basketball Hall of Fame member Vern Mikkelsen, a former Minneapolis Lakers star, turned 81 on Wednesday.