Day: March 26, 2012

Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic considering ankle surgery

Nikola Pekovic

Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic, diagnosed with bone spurs in his right ankle, said Sunday, March 25, that he will consider surgery if the condition doesn’t improve.

Pekovic did not play in the Wolves’ 117-100 win over Denver and will not play at Memphis on Tuesday or at Charlotte on Wednesday.

“I really can’t go into next season with this thing,” Pekovic said before Sunday’s game. “It’s been too painful. We’re going to try to figure out some things to do in the next few days.”

Pekovic has missed four of the past five games because of soreness in his left ankle. He said “overcompensating” for the bone spurs in his right ankle led to soreness in the left.

— Reported by Ray Richardson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press

Ryan Anderson has shot at winning Most Improved player award

Ryan Anderson

[Orlando Magic forward Ryan] Anderson has flourished to the point where he’s a candidate for the NBA’s Most Improved Player of the Year award.

“It’s an honor to even be in the talks and involved with those names,” he said. “I’m not really focused on that as a whole. It’s a cool thing. I’m just truly blessed to play consistently.”

Anderson shared the power-forward spot with Brandon Bass late last season after veteran Rashard Lewis was traded to the Washington Wizards for Gilbert Arenas.

This season, he took advantage of an opportunity when Orlando dealt Bass to the Boston Celtics, winning the job even after the Magic brought in Davis.

Anderson has started all 48 games, averaging 15.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game compared to 10.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in 68 games (14 starts) last season.

— Reported by Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel