MINNEAPOLIS -- If Nikola Pekovic ever returns to prime playing condition, it won't be this season.
Timberwolves coach and president Flip Saunders announced before Monday's game against Utah the 6-foot-11, 285-pound center will not play again in 2014-15. Pekovic had missed the previous 10 games with a sore right ankle, and 31 before that with ankle and wrist issues.
It's the latest shot of bad news in an increasingly concerning career. In each of his five NBA seasons, Pekovic has missed at least 17 games. Including this season in its entirety, he's played in just 65.7 percent of Minnesota's outings since his 2010 NBA debut -- 51.8 percent the past two campaigns.
In every situation, it's been a nick, sprain or strain that's drug out far longer than originally anticipated.
"It's just tough mentally just kind of to go through all this," Pekovic said earlier this season. "You want to play. It just doesn't let you go, doesn't do anything, doesn't do much. You get sore. You get everything. It's tough dealing every day with that."
Pekovic's latest injury had been of a day-to-day nature, with hope he may be able to come back before the season ends. But when asked if Pekovic would play again this year, Saunders responded with a flat "no" and wouldn't elaborate.
Pekovic, 29, averaged 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in 31 games this season. For his career, he averages 12.9 points and 6.9 boards per game.
He joins fellow center Gorgui Dieng as the most recent tweak to a bulky injury report. Forwards Anthony Bennett and Robbie Hummel both returned from prolonged absences Sunday at New Orleans, but Dieng left the game after being hit on the head and is now out with concussion-like symptoms.
Dieng didn't come to the arena on Monday.
Despite Saunders' hope he might've returned from a sore ankle of his own Monday night, point guard Ricky Rubio was listed as "out" for the seventh straight game. Kevin Garnett remains sidelined with an illness (separate from the sore knee that sidelined him starting March 9), Gary Neal is still out with a sprained left ankle, and Shabazz Muhammad is done for the season with a ruptured finger ligament.
Late-season waivers claim Justin Hamilton will start at center Monday night against Utah.
In addition, guard Sean Kilpatrick is no longer with the team. The roster hardship exemption Minnesota used to sign him to a 10-day contract has expired, and the Wolves have enough healthy players that they weren't granted another one.
Follow Phil Ervin on Twitter
