Nikola Pekovic and Kevin Martin return to lineup for T-Wolves against Kings

Dec 1, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic (14) talks to Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Kevin Martin (23) in a break in action against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

The Minnesota Timberwolves are firmly on the outside looking in toward the Western Conference playoff picture, but on Saturday night, they are expected to get an injection of life in the form of two of their top players returning to the lineup.

To recap, Pek and Martin will both be available to play tonight. Pek has missed the last 13 games while Martin has sat out the past seven.
— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) March 1, 2014

Nikola Pekovic and Kevin Martin are expected to suit up when Minnesota takes on the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night, and that is huge news for the entire Wolves team. Pekovic has missed the last 13 games with a nagging ankle injury (one that kept him out much longer than expected), and Martin has been absent for the last 7 contests after injuring his thumb and being declared out “indefinitely”.

The T-Wolves are 6-7 without Pekovic and 4-3 without Martin over that stretch, but there is little argument against Minnesota being a much better team with them in the lineup. Kevin Love has been playing out of his mind for weeks, but with Pekovic (and his 18 points and 9 rebounds) back alongside him, the pressure will be off to a degree, and Martin gives them a consistent, perimeter shooter that they’ve been lacking in recent days.

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