Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love Will Miss Game vs. Trail Blazers

The Minnesota Timberwolves will be missing their two star players for tonight’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers, as both point guard Ricky Rubio and big man Kevin Love will not be paying today.

Rubio was expected to return to the line-up against the Blazers after back spasms costed him the last few games, but he will not be returning after all. Today was the targeted return date for the star guard, but Jerry Zgoda has tweeted the bad news that both men will be out tonight.

Rubio will likely play in the Timberwolves next game, and Luke Ridnour will be manning the point for now. Ridnour will likely take over Rubio’s usual big minutes once again and has averaged double figures on the season.

Love injured his hand on Thursday after going 12-17 in another big game for the superstar UCLA product, and the X-rays also turned out negative. However, Minnesota is exercising its due caution by holding out their best player for tonight’s game against the Blazers, even though Love is most likely healthy enough to play today.

He is averaging 18.3-14 on the season in another terrific year for him, and he is also dishing out 2.3 assists per game. Meanwhile, Rubio has only played in five games and 91 minutes this season.

The interesting is that he has still managed to average 1.2 steals and four assists per game in the limited playing time. In his last outing against the Houston Rockets on the day after Christmas, Rubio managed to put up eight points, dish out a pair of assists, and notch a steal in 21 minutes of action.

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