Minnesota, off to a surprising 4-2 start, didn’t need another injury. But they got one.
Chase Budinger tore the lateral meniscus in his left knee in the Bulls game Saturday and will have surgery later this week, the Timberwolves announced Sunday. There is no timetable for his return until after his surgery.
Budinger was off the best start in his career — 12.4 points per game on 47.6 percent shooting, both career highs. He was playing well in the Timberwolves offense and was getting his shots at the rim or from three and not much in between.
He was coming off the bench behind Andrei Kirilenko and not having him is going to give Rick Adelman headaches and force some lineup shuffling for the Timberwolves, with guys like Derrick Williams maybe getting minutes at the three.
Budinger joins Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love as guys out for an expended period due to injuries, plus Brandon Roy (knee) and J.J. Barea (ankle sprain) are missing time right now.