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Ray Richardson: Rubio said he apologized to Porter for complaining about not playing in 4th Wed vs. Brooklyn. Rubio & Porter say all is 'good' after meeting Twitter @Twolvesnow

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio 

Ricky Rubio was not happy after sitting the entire fourth quarter in Wednesday's 91-83 loss to Brooklyn at Target Center. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Ricky Rubio 

Joan Nielsen: The frustrated Ricky Rubio: "We have two ways to do it. One (is) complaining. … I don’t think that’s the way. The way, it’s (to) be a man.” Twitter @JoanNiesen

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio 

Joan Nielsen: Ricky Rubio in white starter's jersey this morning. No actual confirmation yet that he's starting, will keep you posted. Twitter @JoanNiesen

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio 

Rubio’s 2-for-3 shooting night tied his season high for made buckets and figured as his best shooting percentage among the 10 games he’s played, an indication of how brutal it’s been after he averaged 10.6 points and 8.2 assists in a tantalizing rookie campaign before a torn ACL ended it after 41 games. “It’s hard because you work hard for eight or nine months to get back and it doesn’t stop here,” Rubio said. “You have to work even harder now to get back in shape, to get back to the point you want to be feeling the game again, and that doesn’t come easy.” Yet, add logging a season-high 27 minutes Monday and a desperate Wolves team slipping down the standings at 16-18, can at least glean some positives as they head back to frigid Minneapolis. “I tell him to be patient, to keep working on his legs, keep working on his body. It’s going to turn around sooner or later, but he’s got to be patient and stay positive,” Barea said. “And I tell him he’s young. He’s 22, he has nothing to worry about.” NBA.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio 

As Ricky Rubio pulled up the black, padded knee sleeve that made the permanent markings of reconstructive surgery disappear, he wished the trials that still come with his ongoing recovery, one that wiped out the Olympics and all but 10 games now of this season, could just disappear, too. He softly shook his floppy mane of dark hair and flashed a small, if only brief, smile. “It’s hard because I still have a little pain and it’s something you have to fight through and get through,” said the 22-year-old Spaniard before the Minnesota Timberwolves lost 113-98 to the Dallas Mavericks, a fourth consecutive defeat for Minnesota and yet another game that Rubio would come off the bench and be limited by a minutes restriction. “I talk with the guys who had the same injury and they say about a year, a year-and-a-half [after surgery] they started feeling, like, normal,” Rubio continued. “It’s tough when you’re playing with something in your mind; you don’t want to think about it, but it’s in your mind that you’re going slower and you are not who you used to be. “That’s going to come, but you have to be patient.” NBA.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries 

“You see flashes, but you can see he is nowhere near like he was last season. He was moving,” teammate J.J. Barea said. “The way he plays he needs to move like he used to move, where he’s faster and he’ll be able to get to pick his spots, get wherever he wants so he can make those passes.” NBA.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries 

Paxson said the Bulls have been closely monitoring Ricky Rubio's return from knee surgery with the Timberwolves. Rubio, who returned Dec. 15, has yet to play more than 22 minutes and in just one back-to-back situation. Rubio also missed two games with back spasms that he attributed to the strength of his surgically repaired knee. Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Derrick Rose, Injuries 

Ricky Rubio has yet to play a back-to-back game since returning from an ACL injury earlier this month. He recently missed a road trip due to back spasms. But that's about to change. After Rubio's eight-assist performance Tuesday night, CBSSports.com's Zach Harper reports that Rubio plans to play Wednesday in Oklahoma City. CBSSports.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio 

And on the same day the Timberwolves discovered Kevin Love has broken his shooting hand again, Ricky Rubio missed his third consecutive game because of a back issue that the team has called stiffness and spasms. Wolves coach Rick Adelman said he's hopeful Rubio will play Tuesday against Atlanta but said his conditioning now will be an issue when he is cleared to play. "He had the bad back so he couldn't do anything," Adelman said. "He's a tough kid, but that can be deflating to him because he's starting to come and now his conditioning is an issue again. So don't ask me about the minute limitations." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries 

Jerry Zgoda: Adelman said he expects Rubio will play Tuesday against Atlanta, although the plan these last days was for him to play tonight Twitter @JerryZgoda

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries 

League sources maintain Kahn is tempted to wait a few more weeks to see point guard Ricky Rubio -- currently out with back spasms, but expected back Saturday against Portland -- play a sustained stretch before any drastic decisions are made. That doesn't mean Kahn is passing on opportunities to talk with other general managers, though. 1500ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Trade, Ricky Rubio 

Adelman said he hasn't heard any differently, so he still expects to get Ricky Rubio back for Saturday's home game vs. Portland. The point guard stayed behind on the two-game road trip because of back spasms that have caused him to miss the past three games. "That's what the plan was," Adelman said, "but our plans have gone awry a lot of times." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries 

Don't expect Ricky Rubio to make the trip because of that stiff back that caused him to miss Saturday's victory over Phoenix. Rick Adelman said it didn't make much sense to put Rubio and his spasming back on a plane to Utah and Denver for back-to-back games, the second of which he's wasn't going to play anyway. Instead, unless there's a late change in plans before the team flies today, they'll keep him here for treatment and try to get him healthy for Saturday's game against Portland. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries 

Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio didn't have the benefit of a training camp when he returned two weeks ago from March knee surgery, and now his body is talking to him about him. He missed Saturday's victory over Phoenix and didn't practice Monday because of back spasms that probably are due partly to eight months' inactivity and partly because Rubio is protecting that left knee. "Because you don't trust the knee, you're doing different things and it hurts different spots," Rubio said. "Two weeks ago, it was my groin and now's it's my back, so I have to deal with that and keep pushing it. Your body says, 'You've been out for a long time and you have to take it easy.' But there is no break here. "There are games every night. We're lucky it happened with three days between games so we can work on that." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries 

The winters in Minnesota sure can get cold, so it's nice that one older woman in the area will get to spend the next few months with Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio wrapped around her. Well, at least a massive blanket bearing Rubio's likeness. The Spanish point guard retweeted one fan's amazing Christmas gift Tuesday. Via ondeckdean: "@rickyrubio09 Mom had a very Ricky Christmas!Grandma loves you! Feliz Navidad! pic.twitter.com/6ku0csBZ wish her a happy holidays!" USA Today

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio 

The Timberwolves thus far have been disciplined and uniform in their plan to carefully bring precocious point guard Ricky Rubio back from March knee surgery, limiting him exactly to his 18-minute target three times and 16-plus minutes once in his first four games. Is it time to loosen those limitations? "I hope so," Rubio said. Rubio will meet with management and the team's medical staff Wednesday, and all three parties likely will agree to begin increasing his minutes starting with that night's game against Houston at Target Center. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries 

This is a picture of a giant Ricky Rubio blanket. One lucky Minnesota Timberwolves fan received it for Christmas and let Rubio know about it. Why can't all Christmas presents be this awesome? SB Nation

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio 

Jerry Zgoda: Adelman said they'll keep Rubio's minutes the same -- about 18 -- today and then talk before Wednesday's game about increasing it Twitter @JerryZgoda

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio 

However, Rubio looked more like the guy who struggled Monday at Orlando than the one who impressed during his season debut Saturday against Dallas. He went scoreless again and had three assists, three rebounds, a steal and two turnovers. "He's trying too hard," Adelman said afterward. "I fully expected him to have problems. It's just nice having him on the court." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio