The Wolves also have injury concerns with Jefferson, who had season-ending surgery on his right knee in February. Jefferson, battling to get in shape after the surgery, has been slowed by Achilles tendinitis.
Jefferson did not practice Monday. Rambis was uncertain if Jefferson would be able to play in Tuesday night’s preseason game at Denver. Jefferson’s playing time has been limited in the preseason to help avoid aggravating his knee.
Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love has been scheduled for surgery on his broken left hand.
Love will have the operation in New York on Tuesday to fix a fracture in the fourth metacarpal bone in his shooting hand. The second-year player suffered the injury on a rebound last Friday in a preseason game at Chicago.
The Timberwolves announced the news Monday. He’s expected to be out at least six weeks.
Love’s surgery likely means the NBA’s rookie rebounding leader from a year ago (and ninth overall with 734 boards) could be sidelined until at least the week before Christmas.
Jefferson, who missed the final 32 games last season after surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, faces the unknown.
He traveled with the team to Denver on Monday, but Rambis did not sound optimistic about Jefferson’s status.
“It all depends on … the treatments and the medication and whatever they’re doing for him,” Rambis said. “It all depends how quickly it affects it.”
7. Jonny Flynn, Timberwolves: He’s going to absorb a lot of losses, but he’s a step ahead of Brandon Jennings with a better shot. One of those new jets to get to the hoop.
On a more positive note, both Al Jefferson and Jonny Flynn had good games and I have to say that I was really impressed with Flynn. His ability to penetrate and get in the lane and either make something happen for himself or his teammates was amazing.
All night it seemed as if he was beating his man off the dribble, penetrating down the middle of the lane for layups or kicking it out to the corners for open three point shots and deep two’s. Said head coach Kurt Rambis after the game: “I think it [Flynn’s ability to penetrate and dish] is going to be huge part of his game… He’s going to be terrific.” After watching Brandon Jennings play a few nights earlier, it was very easy to see who’s going to make an impact as a rookie this season and who isn’t. Jonny Flynn is an NBA ready, rookie PG.
