NBA schedule 2012: Minnesota Timberwolves begin the week with Dallas Mavericks

The Minnesota Timberwolves received more bad news over the weekend, when it was determined that Chase Budinger has a torn meniscus, putting him on the end of the bench with Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love for at least the next few weeks. The show must go on, however, as the Wolves have a pair of games early in the week that would be nice to win as they look to improve on their 4-2 record.

Minnesota will face the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night in Texas as the two ailing teams go to battle hoping that they can continue to play solid basketball until their star players return. Yep -- even though the Wolves are missing Love, Rubio, Budinger and possibly J.J. Barea and Brandon Roy, the Mavericks are a bit banged up as well with Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion both expected to miss Monday night's action.

Following the first game of the week, the Wolves will play the Charlotte Bobcats at home on Wednesday before hosting the Golden State Warriors on Friday night (and then getting a much needed four-day break to hopefully quell some injury concerns.)