:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/5758772/20120301_mjr_su5_109.jpg)
Losing Ricky Rubio may turn out to be the death punch for the Minnesota Timberwolves if their last game -- a loss to the New Orleans Hornets -- is any indication. Unfortunately, at 21-21 the Wolves don't have all that much room for error when it comes to making a playoff push, which would be their first since 2004.
Their next test will be the Phoenix Suns. The Suns are about as mediocre as the Wolves have been this year at 19-21, but don't have a Rubio-type injury weighing them down. They've also been playing good basketball as of late with a five-game home winning streak, started the last time they played the Wolves. Steve Nash has been good this year but not great, averaging 13 points and 11 assists per game.
All-Star Kevin Love should at the very least still be good to play after having back spasms last week, a ray of hope for an otherwise hapless Timberwolves team going down to Phoenix.
The game will be at US Airways Center at 10 p.m. Eastern time.
For more on the Minnesota Timberwolves, check out Canis Hoopus. For more on the Phoenix Suns, head over to Bright Side Of The Sun. For more on the NBA in general, head to the SB Nation NBA hub at sbnation.com/NBA.