Karl-Anthony Towns ailing but vows to play against Miami

Miami's dominating big man, Hassan Whiteside, has been ruled out for tonight's game and Timberwolves young star center Karl-Anthony Towns didn't look like he's feeling too good himself before this morning's shootaround at American Airlines Arena.

Towns was sniffling before morning shoot and not looking well.

"I'm sick," he said. "As you can see, I'm dying."

Wolves star Jimmy Butler missed two games last week because of an upper respiratory infection.

"No, I don't have what Jimmy had," Towns said. "I hope not."

Towns has started the last 169 games -- the longest such current streak in the NBA -- and teammates Andrew Wiggins (162) and Jeff Teague (154) are right behind near the top of the league-best list.

"One-hundred sixty nine, about to be 170," he said.

When asked further about feeling ill, Towns said, "I'm fine. I don't need no speculation on the flu game."

Whiteside will miss his fifth consecutive game because of a bruised knee sustained in the Heat's season opener. He had 26 points and 22 rebounds in that one game.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Whiteside participated fully in the Heat's morning shoot, but won't play. "I'm very encouraged by the progress he's making," Spoelstra said.

Former Wolves guard Wayne Ellington is ill and wasn't at shoot, but Spoelstra said he was hopeful Ellington could play tonight.

The Wolves tonight start a stretch where they play five of the next seven games on the road.