Steve Aschburner With More On Chase Budinger

From Hang Time Blog:

When it snows, it blizzards. Or whatever the rains-pours parallel would be for the frosty Upper Midwest, where the Minnesota Timberwolves are getting buried by enough injuries to bring out the plows.

Chase Budinger, the hero 24 hours earlier for his cut-and-layup in the Wolves’ buzzer-beating defeat of Indiana, was the latest to fall, getting helped off the court early in the fourth quarter of their 87-80 loss to the Bulls at United Center. Budinger went down not far from the Chicago bench, given a little extra push according to Minnesota teammates who saw it. All the 6-foot-7 forward knew was that his foot got caught beneath him, putting torque on his left knee.

"It was one of those crazy plays where my foot got stuck," Budinger said, pausing as he exited the visitors’ dressing room on crutches. "It got tangled up. I felt my leg twist."

An X-ray was inconclusive, so the next step is a magnetic resonance imaging test Sunday in Dallas. The Wolves already were anticipating some word there on guard J.J. Barea’s availability for their game Monday against the Mavericks; the point guard suffered a left mid-foot sprain Wednesday against Orlando and didn’t travel to Chicago.

Defeated by reality (A Min/Chi gamewrap)

The Timberwolves run out of magic against the Bulls

Budinger hurt; X-rays negative

Chase Budinger needed help leaving the floor in the fourth quarter after he twisted his knee in a collision with Chicago's Taj Gibson.

X-rays were negative for any breaks or ligament tears, so good news there. Still, the last thing the Wolves need is another injury. Budinger started tonight in place of Brandon Roy, who's out with knee problems of his own, and that's for a team already missing Ricky Rubio, Kevin Love, and JJ Barea. Eeesh.

Budinger will undergo an MRI tomorrow, which will determine if he needs to sit out any game.

Game #6, Second Half Thread

The 2nd half thread for the 6th game of the Road To 81-1.

Game #6, First Half Thread

The first half thread for the 6th game of the season, Wolves v. Bulls.

Wolves/Bulls Preview From Yahoo Sports

By Noey Kupchan:

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls both entered this season without their top player.

While the Bulls have looked pedestrian at times without Derrick Rose, the surging Timberwolves have more than held their own despite Kevin Love's absence.

Minnesota tries to extend its best start in 11 seasons Saturday night when it visits the Bulls, winners of five straight in this series.

Though many expected the Timberwolves to stumble as Love worked his way back from a broken right hand, coach Rick Adelman's team has proven to be one of this season's biggest surprises in getting off to a 4-1 start.

Game #6 On The Road To 81-1: Bullish

The plucky Minnesota Timberwolves take on the Derrick Roseless Chicago Bulls.