Suns-Timberwolves Preview

By JEFF BARTL

(AP) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves are just as sick about not having won in nearly a month as they've become due to a team-wide bug that is making its way throughout the locker room.

The only remedy now is a victory, but they don't even know who will be healthy enough to take the court Wednesday night.

A win likely won't come easy no matter who is on the floor for Timberwolves as they host a Phoenix Suns team seeking a fourth straight victory.

Minnesota (5-28) has lost 12 in a row since beating Portland on Dec. 10, and it is tied with Philadelphia and New York for the fewest victories in the league. Ricky Rubio and Nikola Pekovic have been out with ankle injuries, and Kevin Martin hasn't played since fracturing his right wrist Nov. 19.

Making matters worse, an illness has circulated through the team and even forced coach Flip Saunders to miss Monday's 110-101 loss to Denver. Robbie Hummel wasn't able to play, and Chase Budinger has missed the last two with the sickness.

Budinger participated in Tuesday's practice while Hummel sat out, and both are considered questionable against the Suns. Saunders is expected to be on the sideline.

"It's been rough," Budinger told the team's official website of the circulating illness. "It got me good. It hit me hard one night and just didn't stop for about 72 hours. I got the best rest I've had in a couple days last night and I'm starting to feel a little better today."

The consistent losing also is taking its toll on the young Timberwolves. Gorgui Dieng had a career-high 22 points and 12 rebounds and No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins added 20 against the Nuggets.

Mo Williams was inserted into the starting lineup ahead of rookie Zach LaVine at point guard, but nothing worked as Minnesota trailed by as many as 24.

"I feel like fatigue always kind of plays a part, especially when we're not used to playing this many games," Wiggins said regarding many of the Timberwolves adjusting to an 82-game season. "We're used to playing 30 or 35 games and we've already reached that. So I think fatigue plays a big part."

Wiggins has played at least 40 minutes four times over his last seven, averaging 21.0 points in that stretch.

"We're losing right now," Wiggins said. "It's growing pains. … That's no excuse, though. We're growing every day. We're thinking about that Phoenix game now and thinking about how we're going to get that game."

The Wolves are allowing a league-worst 108.5 points per game, which may not bode well against a Suns team that has won nine of 11 and has averaged 115.3 over its last nine.

Phoenix (21-16) kicked off a four-game road trip with its third straight victory, 102-96 over Milwaukee on Tuesday to improve to a season-best five games over .500. Markieff Morris finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Isaiah Thomas added 19 and Goran Dragic had 16.

The Suns have won six of eight on the road.

"If we stay a consistent basketball club, we can make that push to make the playoffs," Thomas said. "The Western Conference is very tough. Coach (Jeff Hornacek) just keeps talking about winning three out of four games in each little scenario we have throughout the schedule."

Morris went 10 of 13 from the floor and scored 25 points off the bench as the Suns beat the Wolves 127-120 in the most recent meeting March 23.