Pekovic, Garnett, Ibaka miss Friday’s Timberwolves-Thunder tilt

Power forward Nikola Pekovic and center Kevin Garnett sat out for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who were without their own power forward, Serge Ibaka, because of right knee soreness..

Pekovic sat out with an ankle injury that limited him to eight minutes during Wednesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns and missed his 33rd game of the season. He is averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in 26 games and has missed time with ankle and wrist injuries.

Garnett missed his second straight game with a sore knee and third straight game overall. He missed Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers to rest. Coach Flip Saunders said he expected Garnett would play but the 38-year-old was ruled out of the game at the last minute. Garnett is averaging 6.9 points and 6.6 rebounds in 47 games for the Brooklyn Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves. He returned to Minnesota on Feb. 19 in a trade with the Nets for forward Thaddeus Young.

Ibaka missed his first game of the season with the injury and is considered day-to-day. He is averaging 14.3 points and 7.8 rebounds in 64 games this season and Friday was just the third regular-season game he missed since becoming a full-time starter in the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season.